Arrhenius (Martian crater)
Arrhenius is an impact crater in the Eridania quadrangle on Mars at 40.3° S and 237.4° W. and is 129.0 km in diameter. Its name was approved in 1973, and it was named after Svante Arrhenius.[1] Evidence of previous glacial activity is evident in images. There also appear to be branched channels just outside the crater.
-
Arrhenius Crater, as seen by CTX camera (on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter).
-
Glacial features in Arrhenius Crater, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. Arrows point to old glaciers.
Why craters are important
The density of impact craters is used to determine the surface ages of Mars and other solar system bodies. [2] The older the surface, the more craters present. Crater shapes can reveal the presence of ground ice.
The area around craters may be rich in minerals. On Mars, heat from the impact melts ice in the ground. Water from the melting ice dissolves minerals, and then deposits them in cracks or faults that were produced with the impact. This process, called hydrothermal alteration, is a major way in which ore deposits are produced. The area around Martian craters may be rich in useful ores for the future colonization of Mars. [3]
