A recent study suggests that Mars may have experienced a precursor to plate tectonics, indicated by pervasive volcanoes and distinct rock types. While Earth’s early history saw significant geological activity, evidence of this period has largely been erased by plate tectonics. However, Mars provides a unique opportunity to study processes that occurred in its first half-billion years.

Researchers focused on the Eridania Basins in Mars’ southern hemisphere, where they identified numerous volcanic features, including shields, calderas, debris flows, and stratovolcanoes. The composition of the volcanic material, high in felsic materials like granite, is unlike any other volcanic region on Mars.

These findings offer valuable insights into the early geological processes on Mars, shedding light on a period before the onset of plate tectonics. The study’s implications extend beyond Mars, providing a comparative perspective on the evolution of planetary bodies and the processes that shape their surfaces.