?What created these faults on the surface of Mars
Along the eastern side of the Martian shield volcano Alba Mons, the Tantalus Fossae consists of a network of stripes that fissure the surface of Mars. Observed by the ESA's Mars Express probe, this gigantic network of faults is far from unique on the Red Planet, and testifies to its rather special tectonic plates: while the summit of Alba Mons rose under the effect of the impact of Hellas Planitia which formed the basin of the same name, the entire surrounding surface cracked, creating trenches between two parallel faults, called a trench. Similar phenomena occurred with the other Martian volcanoes.
Here, another view taken by Mars Express of Tantalus Fossae and its many grabens.
ESA, DLR, FU BerlinThe ditches are over 1,000 kilometers long, 10 wide and 350 meters deep, while Mount Alba is comparable in size to the United States! Each graben would have formed one after the other, allowing geologists to trace the chronology of Martian tectonic plates. Another clue to their formation: the large crater in the center of the image. This one is crossed by faults, indicating that it was already present during their creation!