OLYMPUS MONSOLYMPUS MONSTable of ContentsTable of Contents• LocationLocation

• Age

• Force & Rock Cycle

• Formation

• Composition

• The Future

• BibliographyBy Mr. Scheck

LocationLocationGeographic LOCATION:Geographic LOCATION:• Click box for more information

Tectonic LocationTectonic Location:• No tectonic plates on Mars• Click box for more information

MarsMars

Tharsis Volcanic RegionTharsis Volcanic Region

Olympus MonsOlympus Mons

Geographic LocationGeographic Location:• Located in the northern part of planet Mars

• Part of the Tharsis Region on Mars

• Which contains several other huge volcanoes

• Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the solar system

• At 27 km high and 600 km across

Tectonic LocationTectonic Location:• Mars has no tectonic plates that move

horizontally

• There is a possibility of vertical crust movement

• Hot lava would push upward through the crust

AgeAge• Extinct Volcano

• Age determination of some of its lava flows show it is older than 200 million years

• Crater counts show that some regions of he volcano are only 2 million years old.

Force & Rock CycleForce & Rock CycleForceForce• Both a constructive &

destructive force• Constructive: creates igneous

extrusive rock (A)• Destructive: weathering &

erosion of surface over time (B)

Rock CycleRock Cycle• Shield Volcano that creates

igneous extrusive rock (A)• Weathering & erosion while

volcano is dormant (B)

A B

FormationFormationShield VolcanoShield Volcano• Shield Volcano with gradual slopes• like the Hawaiian Island volcanoes• Also formed by a hot spot like Hawaii

Large sizeLarge size• 3 times the size of Mt Everest• due to no tectonic plates on Mars• The hot spot keeps feeding the same

volcano• Mars’ gravity is 1/3 our gravity• Its crust is also thicker and stronger• Therefore the mass of the volcano

doesn’t cause it to sink into the crust

Comparison of Olympus Mons to Mt. Everest

Gradual slopes

CompositionCompositionRock TypeRock Type• Made of igneous extrusive rocks• Probably basalt or basaltic andesite• Likely a similar composition to

Hawaiian volcanoes

Scarp FeatureScarp Feature• Scarp or steep slope surrounds the

edge of the volcano• Scarp is up to 4 miles high. • Lava flows drape over the scarp in

places

Summit CalderaSummit Caldera• a composite of up to 7 circular

depressions• 40-50 miles across• Created from different volcanic

eruptions

The FutureThe Future• Olympus Mons is considered to be extinct

• However, eruptions have occurred as recently as 2 million years

• It is possible that Olympus Mons could erupt in the future

• Weathering & erosion will continue to affect Olympus Mons

• If Olympus Mons became active again over a period of time:– enough gases could be released to warm the atmosphere – This could produce water again on the surface of Mars

BibliographyBibliography• Need to include a minimum of TWO reliable sources

• Be sure to use Noodle Tools