Scientists at the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, announced the discovery of a vast volcano and a potential glacier ice sheet in Mars’ Tharsis volcanic province, near the equator. Based on images from spacecraft orbiting Mars since 1971, the finding highlights a volcano provisionally named “Noctis” and suggests the presence of glacier ice beneath a volcanic deposit. This discovery opens new avenues for studying Mars’ geological evolution and future exploration.
Known provisionally as “Noctis volcano,” this geological feature stands at an elevation of +9 022 m (29 600 feet) and spans 450 km (280 miles) in width, hinting at an extensive history of volcanic activity.
Located at the boundary of Noctis Labyrinthus and Valles Marineris, the Noctis volcano has eluded clear identification for decades, despite surveillance by missions since Mariner 9 in 1971. Its discovery, along with the indication of glacier ice beneath a recent volcanic deposit, marks a huge moment for understanding Mars’ geologic and climatic history.
Dr. Pascal Lee, a planetary scientist with the SETI Institute and the Mars Institute at NASA Ames Research Center, and lead author of the study, described the process of uncovering the volcano while investigating the region’s geology. The area’s complex terrain, characterized by layered mesas, canyons, and a central summit area with an arc of elevated mesas, was found to bear signs of extensive volcanic activity, including lava flows, pyroclastic deposits, and hydrated mineral occurrences.
The presence of hydrated minerals in this Martian sector, long suspected to harbor volcanic origins, was confirmed through this discovery, shedding light on the geological processes that shaped the planet.
A giant volcano hiding in plain sight in one of Mars’ most iconic regions. The newly discovered giant volcano on Mars is located just south of the planet’s equator, in Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus, west of Valles Marineris, the planet’s vast canyon system. The volcano sits on the eastern edge of a broad regional topographic rise called Tharsis, home to three other well-known giant volcanoes: Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Arsia Mons. Although more eroded and less high than these giants, the newly discovered volcano rivals the others in diameter, which is about 450 km (280 miles) (red dashed circle in this picture). Possible buried glacier ice is also reported under a relatively recent volcanic deposit within the perimeter of the eroded volcano, making the area attractive for the search for life and future robotic and human exploration. Credit: Background image: NASA/USGS Mars globe. Geologic interpretation and annotations by Pascal Lee and Sourabh Shubham 2024.
Newly discovered giant volcano is located in the “middle of the action” on Mars. Topographic map showing the iconic location of the Noctis volcano between the largest volcanic and canyon provinces on Mars. Background image: NASA Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) digital elevation model. Geologic interpretation & annotations by Pascal Lee and Sourabh Shubham 2024.
Sourabh Shubham, a graduate student at the University of Maryland’s Department of Geology and co-author of the study, referred to the Noctis volcano as a long-sought “smoking gun” for the volcanic setting of these minerals.
Furthermore, the study unveiled a 5 000 km2 (1 930 mi2) area within the volcano’s perimeter, characterized by a terrain of low, rounded, and elongated mounds known as “rootless cones.”
These features suggest the explosive interaction of hot volcanic material with ice-rich surfaces, hinting at the presence of a significant sheet of glacier ice beneath the volcanic deposit.
This discovery enriches our understanding of Mars’ volcanic activity and opens new pathways for astrobiological research and future exploration.
The possibility of glacier ice near the Martian equator, coupled with the volcanic site’s history of heat and water interaction, positions the Noctis volcano as a prime candidate for studying potential life-supporting conditions and for human exploration missions.
Topographic map of the Noctis volcano. The Noctis volcano does not present the conventional cone shape of a typical volcano because a long history of deep fracturing and erosion has modified it. However, upon close inspection, key features indicative of a volcano are recognizable. Within the “inner zone” delineating the highest elevation remains of the volcano, an arc of high mesas marks the central summit area, culminating at +9022 m (29,600 ft). Preserved portions of the volcano’s flanks extend downhill in different directions to the outer edge of the “outer zone,” 225 km (140 miles) away from the summit area. A caldera remnant – the remains of a collapsed volcanic crater once host to a lava lake – can be seen near the center of the structure. Lava flows, pyroclastic deposits (made of volcanic particulate materials such as ash, cinders, pumice and tephra) and hydrothermal mineral deposits occur in several areas within the perimeter of the volcanic structure. The map also shows the rootless cone field and possible extent of shallow buried glacier ice reported in this study, in relation to the “relict glacier” discovered in 2023. Noctis Landing, a candidate landing site for future robotic and human exploration, is also shown. Background images: NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Context Camera (CTX) mosaic and Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) digital elevation model. Geologic interpretation & annotations by Pascal Lee & Sourabh Shubham 2024
Possible buried glacier ice near the base of the Noctis volcano. A well-preserved volcanic lava flow and pyroclastic deposit in the southeastern part of the Noctis volcano suggest that the volcano remained active even in relatively recent times. The pyroclastic deposit presents “blisters” at its surface, interpreted as “rootless cones” or steam vents produced when the hot pyroclastic materials came in contact with H2O ice. Breaches in the pyroclastic deposit reveal light-toned deposits (LTDs) of sulfate salts, expected products of chemical reactions between pyroclastic materials and H2O ice. The largest LTD of sulfates in this area had already been described as a “relict glacier,” as it presents a wide range of morphologic traits specific to glaciers, suggesting that glacier ice might still be preserved, only protected under a thin layer of sulfate salts. By extension, the rootless cones and other sulfate deposits in this area may be blanketing even more glacier ice. Credit: Background images: NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE), Context Imager (CTX), and Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM). Geologic interpretation and annotations by Pascal Lee and Sourabh Shubham 2024
References:
1 Giant Volcano Discovered on Mars – SETI Institute – March 13, 2024
2 Large eroded volcano complex and buried glacier ice in eastern Noctis Labyrinthus: Evidence for recent volcanism and glaciation near Mars’ equator – 55th LPSC (2024)
Featured image: Background image NASA/USGS Mars globe. Geologic interpretation and annotations by Pascal Lee and Sourabh Shubham 2024
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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