# Amenthes quadrangle

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Map of Mars

Amenthes quadrangle Map of Amenthes quadrangle from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data. The highest elevations are red and the lowest are blue. Coordinates 15°00′N 247°30′W / 15°N 247.5°W / 15; -247.5

Image of the Amenthes Quadrangle (MC-14). The southern part includes heavily cratered highlands; the northern part contains [Elysium Planitia](/source/Elysium_Planitia); and the eastern half includes [Isidis basin](/source/Isidis_basin).

The **Amenthes quadrangle** is one of a series of [30 quadrangle maps of Mars](/source/List_of_quadrangles_on_Mars) used by the [United States Geological Survey](/source/United_States_Geological_Survey) (USGS) [Astrogeology Research Program](/source/Astrogeology_Research_Program). The Amenthes quadrangle is also referred to as MC-14 (Mars Chart-14).[1] The quadrangle covers the area from 225° to 270° west longitude and from 0° to 30° north latitude on [Mars](/source/Mars). Amenthes quadrangle contains parts of [Utopia Planitia](/source/Utopia_Planitia), [Isidis Planitia](/source/Isidis_Planitia), [Terra Cimmeria](/source/Terra_Cimmeria), and [Tyrrhena Terra](/source/Tyrrhena_Terra).

The name Amenthes is the Egyptian word for the place where the souls of the dead go.[2]

This [quadrangle](/source/Quadrangle_(geography)) contains the [Isidis basin](/source/Isidis_basin), a location where [magnesium carbonate](/source/Magnesium_carbonate) was found by [MRO](/source/Mars_Reconnaissance_Orbiter). This mineral indicates that water was present and that it was not acidic. There are [Dark slope streaks](/source/Dark_slope_streaks), troughs (fossae), and river valleys ([Vallis](/source/Vallis_(planetary_geology))) in this quadrangle.

The [Beagle 2](/source/Beagle_2) lander was about to land in the quadrangle, particularly in the eastern part of [Isidis Planitia](/source/Isidis_Planitia), in December 2003, when contact with the craft was lost. In January 2015, NASA reported the Beagle 2 had been found on the surface in Isidis Planitia (location is about [11°31′35″N 90°25′46″E / 11.5265°N 90.4295°E / 11.5265; 90.4295](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Amenthes_quadrangle&params=11.5265_N_90.4295_E_globe:Mars)).[3][4] High-resolution images captured by the [Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter](/source/Mars_Reconnaissance_Orbiter) identified the lost probe, which appears to be intact.[5][6][7] ([see discovery images here](/source/Beagle_2#Discovery_of_Beagle_2_spacecraft_on_Mars))

## Craters

Some craters in the Amenthes region (as well as other parts of Mars) show ejecta around them that have lobes. It is believed that the lobed shape is caused by an impact into water or ice logged ground. Calculations suggest that ice is stable beneath the Martian surface.

At the equator the stable layer of ice might lie under as much as 1 kilometer of material, but at higher latitudes the ice may be just a few centimeters below the surface. This was proven when the landing rockets on the [Phoenix lander](/source/Phoenix_lander) blew away surface dust to reveal an ice surface.[8][9] The larger an impact crater, the deeper its penetration, a large crater is more likely to have a lobate ejecta since it went down to the ice layer. When even small craters have lobes, the ice level is close to the surface.[10] This idea would be very important for future colonists on Mars who would like to live near a source of water.

Impact craters generally have a rim with ejecta around them, in contrast volcanic craters usually do not have a rim or ejecta deposits.[11] Sometimes craters will display layers. Since the collision that produces a crater is like a powerful explosion, rocks from deep underground are tossed unto the surface. Hence, craters can show us what lies deep under the surface. One crater in the Amenthes quadrangle is believed to be a source of [nakhlite](/source/Nakhlite) [meteorites](/source/Meteorites). A team of researchers found that these particular meteorites came from four different eruptions of lava because they showed different ages. The ages were measured by comparing [isotopes](/source/Isotope) of the element [argon](/source/Argon). Since the ages vary from 93 to 1322 million years, the authors concluded that [volcanoes](/source/Volcano) grow much more slowly on Mars than the Earth. Many of the volcanoes on the Earth grow much quicker, as they form at plate boundaries. In contrast, Martian volcanoes probably form from plumes.[12]

## Hebrus Valles

[Hebrus Vales](/source/Hebrus_Valles) has tributaries, terraces, and teardrop shaped islands. The tear drop shape of the islands indicate what direction the water used to flow. The terraces may be caused by different layers of rocks or from the water being at different levels.[13] These features are common for the rivers of the Earth.

There is evidence that Hebrus Valles region has Karst caves. They may be like the caverns of Earth. Caves can be formed by ancient water dissolving carbonate and sulfate rocks. Researchers have found eight possible cave openings, or "skylights.” This discovery of water-carved caves is a significant finding because evidence of life may exist there since. The cave environment would protect life from the harsh surface environment. In addition, future colonists may be able to live in them.[14][15]

## See also

- [Climate of Mars](/source/Climate_of_Mars)

- [Dark slope streaks](/source/Dark_slope_streaks)

- [Fossa (geology)](/source/Fossa_(geology))

- [Geology of Mars](/source/Geology_of_Mars)

- [Hebrus Valles](/source/Hebrus_Valles)

- [HiRISE](/source/HiRISE)

- [HiWish program](/source/HiWish_program)

- [Hydrothermal circulation](/source/Hydrothermal_circulation)

- [Impact crater](/source/Impact_crater)

- [List of quadrangles on Mars](/source/List_of_quadrangles_on_Mars)

- [List of craters on Mars](/source/List_of_craters_on_Mars)

- [Ore resources on Mars](/source/Ore_resources_on_Mars)

- [Vallis](/source/Vallis_(planetary_geology))

- [Water on Mars](/source/Water_on_Mars)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Davies, M.E.; Batson, R.M.; Wu, S.S.C. “Geodesy and Cartography” in Kieffer, H.H.; Jakosky, B.M.; Snyder, C.W.; Matthews, M.S., Eds. *Mars.* University of Arizona Press: Tucson, 1992.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Blunck, J. 1982. Mars and its Satellites. Exposition Press. Smithtown, N.Y.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TW-20150116_3-0)** Ellison, Doug (16 January 2015). ["re Beagle 2 location on Mars => "Using HiView on image ESP_039308_1915_COLOR.JP2 I get 90.4295E 11.5265N""](https://twitter.com/doug_ellison/status/556201983443357696). *[Twitter](/source/Twitter) & [JPL](/source/JPL)*. Retrieved 19 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NASA-20150116-TG_4-0)** Grecicius, Tony; Dunbar, Brian (16 January 2015). ["Components of Beagle 2 Flight System on Mars"](https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/mars/pia19106/). *[NASA](/source/NASA)*. Retrieved 18 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NASA-20150116_5-0)** Webster, Guy (16 January 2015). ["'Lost' 2003 Mars Lander Found by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter"](https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/lost-2003-mars-lander-found-by-mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/). *[NASA](/source/NASA)*. Retrieved 16 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NYT-20150116_6-0)** ["Mars Orbiter Spots Beagle 2, European Lander Missing Since 2003"](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/17/science/space/missing-lander-beagle-2-finally-located-on-mars.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Associated Press. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BBC-20150116_7-0)** Amos, Jonathan (16 January 2015). ["Lost Beagle2 probe found 'intact' on Mars"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30784886). *[BBC](/source/BBC)*. Retrieved 16 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20080531.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2008/08_108AR_prt.html)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["ESA Science & Technology - Science Portal"](https://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31026).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kieffer1992_11-0)** Hugh H. Kieffer (1992). [*Mars*](https://books.google.com/books?id=NoDvAAAAMAAJ). University of Arizona Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8165-1257-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8165-1257-7). Retrieved 7 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Cohen, B., et al. 2017. Taking the pulse of Mars via dating of a plume-fed volcano. Nature Communications. 8, 640.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Hebrus Valles | Mars Odyssey Mission THEMIS"](https://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20020603a).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [https://universemagazine.com/en/place-of-life-scientists-find-water-formed-caves-on-mars/#:~:text=The%20caves%20we%20are%20talking,science%20communicator%2C%20author](https://universemagazine.com/en/place-of-life-scientists-find-water-formed-caves-on-mars/#:~:text=The%20caves%20we%20are%20talking,science%20communicator%2C%20author)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Sharma, R. 2025. Water-driven Accessible Potential Karstic Caves in Hebrus Valles, Mars: Implications for Subsurface Habitability. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 993:L36 (13pp), 2025 November 1.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Amenthes quadrangle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Amenthes_quadrangle).

v t e Quadrangles on Mars MC-01 Mare Boreum (features) MC-02 Diacria (features) MC-03 Arcadia (features) MC-04 Acidalium (features) MC-05 Ismenius Lacus (features) MC-06 Casius (features) MC-07 Cebrenia (features) MC-08 Amazonis (features) MC-09 Tharsis (features) MC-10 Lunae Palus (features) MC-11 Oxia Palus (features) MC-12 Arabia (features) MC-13 Syrtis Major (features) MC-14 Amenthes (features) MC-15 Elysium (features) MC-16 Memnonia (features) MC-17 Phoenicis Lacus (features) MC-18 Coprates (features) MC-19 Margaritifer Sinus (features) MC-20 Sinus Sabaeus (features) MC-21 Iapygia (features) MC-22 Mare Tyrrhenum (features) MC-23 Aeolis (features) MC-24 Phaethontis (features) MC-25 Thaumasia (features) MC-26 Argyre (features) MC-27 Noachis (features) MC-28 Hellas (features) MC-29 Eridania (features) MC-30 Mare Australe (features)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Amenthes quadrangle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenthes_quadrangle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenthes_quadrangle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.