Figure 2. A CTX mosaic of a section of the Bathys Planum
region, where graben associated with the Stage 1 Claritas and Stage 3
Pavonis tectonic centers [Anderson et al., 2001] assume a
stair-stepped or zigzagged morphology as they intersect the E-W
curvilinear basement fabric. The inset map’s white box shows the
location of this region in the mapping extent. Traces of the E-W
basement structures can be identified indirectly due to downtrend
alignments of stairsteps in the graben troughs. However, these traces
sometimes manifest explicit surficial tectonic geomorphologies (see
Figure 3). Instances of stairstepping and downtrend alignment are
illustrated with yellow brackets. Image is centered near 115°W, 37°S.
This stair-stepping pattern is present where the graben intersect
east-west trending lineaments (Figure 2). The graben are offset or
deflected where the graben intersect, suggesting that the east-west
trending structures influenced the development of the graben.
Additionally, downtrend of the graben-lineament intersections,
depressions and hills have been identified adjacent to the lineament
traces. These hills and depressions are consistent with pop-ups and
pull-apart basins observed along strike-slip faults on Earth, suggesting
that the lineaments are left-lateral strike-slip faults. In this study,
the morphology and relative timing of these structures were examined and
compared to other structures identified in this region.