Coupling Viking Information with Themis and Mola Data Results in Significant Improvement in Paleoerosional Detail of Warrego Valles

Introduction: Quantitatively, how much of an improvement in paleoerosional detail is there when THEMIS [1] and MOLA [2] data are coupled with Viking information [3]? This is a significant query, as there have been numerous Viking-based efforts to unfold the paleoerosional history of Mars, which is recorded in the distribution and relative age of channels and valley networks [e.g.,4-5]. We report preliminary findings on the re-evaluation of the Viking-based, published geologic map information of the Thaumasia region [3] through detailed investigation of the Warrego rise region, which includes Warrego Valles (Figs. 1 and 2). The Warrego rise region is a prominent part of the ancient Thaumasia highlands mountain range, with an elevation of more than 7.6 km above Martian datum. The rise occurs on the southern margin of the arcuate mountain range, which is marked by magnetic signatures [e.g., 6-10], complex tectonic structures [3,1114], and well-defined valley networks of Warrego Valles [3-5,15-16] (Fig. 2). Warrego rise has been identified as a regional center of tectonic activity [17].