# Aram Chaos > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Aram_Chaos > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Aram_Chaos.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aram_Chaos > Source revision: 1347731922 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Crater on Mars Aram Chaos Aram Chaos is the circular depression in the top left. Iani Chaos is in the bottom right. Location Margaritifer Terra, Mars Coordinates 2°36′N 21°30′W / 2.6°N 21.5°W / 2.6; -21.5 Diameter 280 km (170 mi) Depth 3 km (1.9 mi) **Aram Chaos**, centered at 2.6°N, 21.5°W, is a heavily eroded [impact crater](/source/Impact_crater) on [Mars](/source/Mars). It lies at the eastern end of the large canyon [Valles Marineris](/source/Valles_Marineris) and close to [Ares Vallis](/source/Ares_Vallis). Various geological processes have reduced it to a circular area of [chaotic terrain](/source/Chaotic_terrain). Aram Chaos takes its name from Aram, one of the [classical albedo features](/source/Classical_albedo_features) observed by [Giovanni Schiaparelli](/source/Giovanni_Schiaparelli), who named it after the [Biblical](/source/Biblical) land of [Aram](/source/Aram_(biblical_region)). [Spectroscopic](/source/Spectroscopic) observation from orbit indicates the presence of the mineral [hematite](/source/Hematite), likely a signature of a once aqueous environment. ## Description Aram Chaos is an impact crater on Mars measuring 280 kilometers (170 mi) in diameter. It lies in the [Oxia Palus](/source/Oxia_Palus_quadrangle) quadrangle in a region called [Margaritifer Terra](/source/Margaritifer_Terra), and its exact coordinates on Mars are [2°36′N 21°30′W / 2.6°N 21.5°W / 2.6; -21.5](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Aram_Chaos¶ms=2.6_N_21.5_W_globe:mars_type:landmark). The Thermal Emission Imaging System ([THEMIS](/source/THEMIS)) on the [orbiter](/source/Orbiter) *[Mars Odyssey](/source/Mars_Odyssey)* found [gray crystalline hematite](/source/Gray_crystalline_hematite) on the floor of Aram Chaos and [CRISM](/source/Compact_Reconnaissance_Imaging_Spectrometer_for_Mars), the spectroscope on the [MRO](/source/Mars_Reconnaissance_Orbiter), found hydrated sulfates, [jarosite](/source/Jarosite), and hematite. The floor of Aram Chaos also contains huge blocks of collapsed, or chaotic, terrain that formed when water or ice was catastrophically removed. Small, shallow outlet channels are also visible in the eastern wall of the impact crater, as well as a small outflow channel connecting Aram Chaos with the [Ares Valles](/source/Ares_Vallis) outflow channel. ## Geology ### Formation Aram Chaos, as an [impact crater](/source/Impact_crater), started its formation with the high velocity impact of an unknown smaller body on the surface of Mars. This formed the large, circular depression that originally made up the crater. This crater was then filled with sediments, likely carried by [aeolian processes](/source/Aeolian_processes), that were deposited into Aram Chaos over time. Subsequently, and in tandem with the compilation of these sedimentary layers, and aquifer formed beneath the surface of the crater. #### Chaotic Terrain and Aqueous Environment Following the deposition of sedimentary layers and the formation of the subsurface aquifer, a catastrophic geologic event occurred which caused the release of the subsurface aquifer and the subsequent catastrophic flooding, creating chaotic terrain within Aram Chaos. The repetition of this process led to layered terrains within Aram Chaos, including layers of the mineral hematite.[1][2][3] Several minerals in Aram Chaos, including the hematite sulfate minerals and water-altered silicates, suggest that a lake probably once existed within the crater at some point in time.[4][5] Scientists also suggest that flood channels within Aram Chaos were carved within just weeks or months by catastrophic outflows of groundwater from beneath Aram Chaos and nearby regions.[6] Because forming hematite requires liquid water, which cannot exist without a thick atmosphere, the presence of hematite also suggests that Mars had a much thicker atmosphere at some time in the past. Tilting and erosion of Aram Chaos is also evident in satellite imagery taken of the crater. #### Possible Volcanic Constructs There is a possible volcanic component to the formation of outflow channels in Aram Chaos. By melting the permafrost or ground ice originally in the crater, geothermal activity may have caused the creation of the visible outflow channels in the impact crater.[7] High resolution MOC images of the chaotic terrains in Aram Chaos show possible volcanic features within the crater, including hills resembling volcanoes, possible magmatic intrusions within the older rock layers, and possible volcanic ash deposits on the crater floor. ### Mineralogical Composition Not including dust and regolith common on the surface of Mars, two distinct sections of identifiable minerals have been determined to exist within Aram Chaos: a mixture of [hematite](/source/Hematite) and/or [goethite](/source/Goethite) and a mixture of [ferric oxides](/source/Iron(III)_oxide) and [sulfates](/source/Sulfate).[8] Specifically, these minerals can be seen as two layers in Aram Chaos, described from top to bottom. The first layer consists mostly of nanophase iron oxides, which is about 250–500 meters thick, while the second layer is made up of a less than 500 m layer of polyhydrated sulfate and hematite.[9][10] [Ferric hydroxysulfate](/source/Ferric_hydroxysulfate) (Fe3+SO4OH) has been found in Aram Chaos. It was probably formed from the heating and oxidation of hydrated ferrous sulfates. The heat may have come from the deposition of lava or ash. Another psossibility is that heat came from the ground by way of hydrothermal processes. This iron and sulfur compound was discovered with the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) instrument.[11] ## See also - [Chaos terrain](/source/Chaos_terrain) - [Geology of Mars](/source/Geology_of_Mars) - [HiRISE](/source/HiRISE) - [HiWish program](/source/HiWish_program) - [List of areas of chaos terrain on Mars](/source/List_of_areas_of_chaos_terrain_on_Mars) - [Martian chaos terrain](/source/Martian_chaos_terrain) - [Outflow channels](/source/Outflow_channels) - [Water on Mars](/source/Water_on_Mars) Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Aram Chaos](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Aram_Chaos). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Glotch, Timothy D. (2004). *The thermal infrared spectral characteristics of hematite and its origin in Aram Chaos, Mars* (Thesis). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [63279533](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/63279533). [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [305210528](https://www.proquest.com/docview/305210528). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Sibille, L.; Mueller, R. P.; Niles, P. B.; Glotch, T.; Archer, P. D.; Bell, M. S. (October 2015). [*Aram Chaos: A Long Lived Subsurface Aqueous Environment with Strong Water Resource Potential for Human Missions on Mars*](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20150019643). First Landing Site/Exploration Zone Workshop for Human Missions to the Surface of Mars. p. 1048. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2015LPICo1879.1048S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015LPICo1879.1048S). [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2128176559](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2128176559). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Glotch, Timothy D. (2005). ["Geologic and mineralogic mapping of Aram Chaos: Evidence for a water-rich history"](https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2004JE002389). *Journal of Geophysical Research*. **110** (E9) 2004JE002389: E09006. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2005JGRE..110.9006G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005JGRE..110.9006G). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1029/2004JE002389](https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2004JE002389). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Lichtenberg, K. A.; Arvidson, R. E.; Morris, R. V.; Murchie, S. L.; Bishop, J. L.; Glotch, T. D.; Noe Dobrea, E. Z.; Mustard, J. F.; Andrews-Hanna, J.; Roach, L. H. (March 2009). *Stratigraphy and Relationship of Hydrated Minerals in the Layered Deposits of Aram Chaos, Mars*. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. p. 2326. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009LPI....40.2326L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009LPI....40.2326L). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Lichtenberg, Kimberly A.; Arvidson, Raymond E.; Morris, Richard V.; Murchie, Scott L.; Bishop, Janice L.; Fernandez Remolar, David; Glotch, Timothy D.; Noe Dobrea, Eldar; Mustard, John F.; Andrews-Hanna, Jeffrey; Roach, Leah H. (10 June 2010). ["Stratigraphy of hydrated sulfates in the sedimentary deposits of Aram Chaos, Mars"](https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2009JE003353). *Journal of Geophysical Research*. **115** 2009JE003353: E00D17. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1029/2009JE003353](https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2009JE003353). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["HiRISE | Uplifted Blocks of Light-Toned Layered Deposits (ESP_054753_1825)"](https://www.uahirise.org/ESP_054753_1825). *www.uahirise.org*. Retrieved 2021-05-08. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Lanz, J. K.; Jaumann, R. (March 2001). *Possible Volcanic Constructs in Aram Chaos Revealed by MOC and Their Impact on Outflow Channel Genesis*. 32nd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. p. 1574. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2001LPI....32.1574L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2001LPI....32.1574L). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Liu, Yang (2013). *Spectral Identification and Analyses of Hydrous Mineral Deposits: Implications for the Aqueous History of Aram Chaos and Melas Chasma, Mars* (Thesis). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [861698923](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/861698923). [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1426182378](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1426182378). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Lichtenberg, K.; Arvidson, R.; Bishop, J.; Glotch, T.; Noe Dobrea, E.; Murchie, S.; Mustard, J.; Roach, L. (December 2008). *Mg- and Fe-Sulfate Layers in Aram Chaos, Mars*. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008. pp. P44A–09. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2008AGUFM.P44A..09L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008AGUFM.P44A..09L). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Massé, M.; Le Mouélic, S.; Bourgeois, O.; Combe, J.-P.; Le Deit, L.; Sotin, C.; Bibring, J.-P.; Gondet, B.; Langevin, Y. (9 December 2008). ["Mineralogical composition, structure, morphology, and geological history of Aram Chaos crater fill on Mars derived from OMEGA Mars Express data"](https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00488981/file/2008JE003131.pdf) (PDF). *Journal of Geophysical Research*. **113** (E12): E12006. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2008JGRE..11312006M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008JGRE..11312006M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1029/2008JE003131](https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2008JE003131). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Bishop, J. et al. 2025. Characterization of ferric hydroxysulfate on Mars and implications of the geochemical environment supporting its formation. nature communications. [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61801-2](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61801-2) ## External links - [HiRISE](/source/HiRISE) [image of the area](https://web.archive.org/web/20061130063821/http://hiroc.lpl.arizona.edu/images/TRA/TRA_000834_1835/) - [The geology of Aram Chaos](http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2003/pdf/2046.pdf) - [Mars Express image of the area](http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMG4O9ATME_0.html) ## More Images - Erosion in Aram Chaos, as seen by THEMIS - Badlands of Aram Chaos - Viking 1 Orbiter image - Eastern floor of Aram Chaos - Minerals that form in water have been detected in the cliffs in the Aram Chaos region of Mars, as pictured. - Sediments in Aram Chaos - Gully landforms in Aram Choas - Aram Chaos in perspective view - Aram Chaos in false color - Aram Chaos in black and white - Aram Chaos in true color - Aram Chaos as seen by HiRISE - Hanging valleys in Aram Chaos, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program - Blocks in Aram Chaos showing possible source of water, as seen by THEMIS - Quadrangle map of Oxia Palus labeled with major features. Aram Chaos is near the bottom of the image. - Topographic map of Oxia Palus region of Mars showing the location of a number of chaos regions, including Aram Chaos. - Wide view of Aram Chaos, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. The black strip is where data was not gathered. - Aram Chaos with a light toned mound as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. The mound probably contains water bearing minerals. - Light toned mound as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. The mound probably contains water bearing minerals. - Dark sand on top of light toned material, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. v t e Geography and geology of Mars Cartography Regions Abalos Undae Aspledon Undae Arabia Terra Cerberus Cydonia Eridania Lake Hyperboreae Undae Ogygis Undae Olympia Undae Planum Australe Planum Boreum Quadrangles Sinus Meridiani Siton Undae Tempe Terra Terra Cimmeria Terra Sabaea Tharsis Vastitas Borealis Quadrangles Aeolis Amazonis Amenthes Arabia Arcadia Argyre Casius Cebrenia Coprates Diacria Elysium Eridania Hellas Iapygia Ismenius Lacus Lunae Palus Mare Acidalium Mare Australe (South Pole) Mare Boreum (North Pole) Mare Tyrrhenum Margaritifer Sinus Memnonia Noachis Oxia Palus Phaethontis Phoenicis Lacus Sinus Sabaeus Syrtis Major Tharsis Thaumasia Geology Surface features Brain terrain Carbonates Chaos terrain Color Composition Concentric crater fill Dark slope streak Dichotomy Dune fields Hagal Nili Patera Fretted terrain Geysers Glaciers Groundwater Gullies Inverted relief Lakes Lava tubes Lineated valley fill (LVF) Lobate debris apron North Polar Basin Ocean hypothesis Ore resources Outflow channels Polar caps Ring mold craters Rootless cones Scalloped topography Seasonal flows Soil Spherules Surface Swiss cheese features Terrain softening Tholus Upper plains unit Valley networks Water discovery chronology Yardangs History Amazonian Hesperian Noachian Volcanology Observation history Canals (list) Classical albedo features Rocks observed Curiosity rover Bathurst Inlet Coronation Goulburn Hottah Jake Matijevic Link Rocknest Rocknest 3 Tintina Opportunity rover Bounce El Capitan Last Chance Sojourner rover Barnacle Bill Yogi Spirit rover Adirondack Home Plate Mimi Pot of Gold Viking Big Joe Other Face Monolith Meteorites found on Mars Block Island Heat Shield Mackinac Island Meridiani Planum Oileán Ruaidh Shelter Island Martian meteorites found on Earth Balsaltic Breccia Chassignites Nakhlites Shergottites Other List Topography Mountains, volcanoes (list by height) Acidalia Colles Alba Mons Anseris Mons Apollinaris Mons Ariadnes Colles Astapus Colles Ausonia Montes Avernus Colles Biblis Tholus Centauri Montes Charitum Montes Echus Montes Elysium Elysium Mons Albor Tholus Hecates Tholus Erebus Montes Galaxius Mons Hadriacus Mons Hellas Montes Jovis Tholus Libya Montes Mount Sharp Nereidum Montes Olympus Mons Phlegra Montes Syrtis Major Planum Tartarus Colles Tartarus Montes Tharsis Montes Ascraeus Pavonis Arsia Tharsis Tholus Tyrrhenus Mons Ulysses Tholus Uranius group Uranius Mons Ceraunius Tholus Uranius Tholus Plains, plateaus Acidalia Planitia Aeolis Palus Amazonis Planitia Arcadia Planitia Argentea Planum Argyre Planitia Chryse Planitia Daedalia Planum Elysium Planitia Eridania Planitia Hellas Planitia Hesperia Planum Icaria Planum Isidis Planitia Lunae Planum Meridiani Planum Oxia Planum Planum Australe Planum Boreum Syria Planum Syrtis Major Planum Utopia Planitia Eden Patera Orcus Patera Peneus Patera Pityusa Patera Siloe Patera Canyons, valleys Aram Chaos Arsia Chasmata Aromatum Chaos Atlantis Chaos Aureum Chaos Candor Chasma Chasma Boreale Coprates Chasma Echus Chasma Eos Chaos Eos Chasma Galaxias Chaos Ganges Chasma Gorgonum Chaos Hebes Chasma Hydaspis Chaos Hydraotes Chaos Iani Chaos Ister Chaos Ius Chasma Juventae Chasma Melas Chasma Ophir Chasma Tithonium Chasma List of valles Apsus Ares Arnus Asopus Athabasca Auqakuh Bahram Buvinda Dao Enipeus Frento Granicus Green Valley Harmakhis Hebrus Her Desher Hrad Huo Hsing Hypanis Iberus Indus Ituxi Kasei Labou Ladon Lethe Licus Louros Maʼadim Mad Maja Mamers Mangala Marineris Labes Marte Maumee Mawrth Minio Naktong Nanedi Niger Nirgal Padus Paraná Patapsco Peace Rahway Ravi Reull Sabis Sabrina Samara Scamander Shalbatana Simud Stura Tader Tinia Tinjar Tiu Tyras Uzboi ULM Vedra Verde Warrego Fossae, mensae, rupes, labyrinthi Amenthes Fossae Ceraunius Fossae Cerberus Fossae Coloe Fossae Cyane Fossae Elysium Fossae Hephaestus Fossae Icaria Fossae Labeatis Fossae Mangala Fossa Mareotis Fossae Medusae Fossae Memnonia Fossae Nili Fossae Olympica Fossae Oti Fossae Sirenum Fossae Tantalus Fossae Tempe Fossae Tithonium Fossae Tractus Fossae Ulysses Fossae Aeolis Mensae Ausonia Mensa Capri Mensa Cydonia Mensae Deuteronilus Mensae Ganges Mensa Nilosyrtis Mensae Protonilus Mensae Sacra Mensa Claritas Rupes Nilokeras Scopulus Olympus Rupes Rupes Tenuis Angustus Labyrinthus Noctis Labyrinthus Catenae, craters Artynia Catena Tithoniae Catenae Tractus Catena Adams Agassiz Airy Airy-0 Aniak Antoniadi Arandas Argo Arkhangelsky Arrhenius Asimov Bacolor Bakhuysen Baldet Baltisk Bamberg Barabashov Barnard Beagle Becquerel Beer Belz Bernard Bianchini Boeddicker Bok Bond Bonestell Bonneville Brashear Briault Burroughs Burton Campbell Canso Cassini Caxias Cerulli Chafe Chapais Chincoteague Chryse Alien Clark Coblentz Columbus Copernicus Corby Crewe Crivitz Crommelin Cruls Curie Da Vinci Danielson Darwin Davies Dawes Dejnev Denning Dilly Dinorwic Douglass Dromore Du Martheray Eagle (Acidalia Planitia) Eagle (Meridiani Planum) Eberswalde Eddie Ejriksson Emma Dean Endeavour Matijevic Hill Endurance Erebus Escalante Eudoxus Fenagh Fesenkov Firsoff Flammarion Flaugergues Focas Fontana Fournier Fram Freedom Galdakao Gale Galle Garni Gasa Gilbert Gill Gledhill Gold Graff Green Grindavik Gusev Apollo 1 Hills Chaffee Grissom White Columbia Hills Husband McCool Sleepy Hollow Hadley Haldane Hale Halley Hargraves Hartwig Heaviside Heimdal Heinlein Helmholtz Henry Herschel Hipparchus Holden Holmes Hooke Huggins Hussey Hutton Huxley Huygens Iazu Ibragimov Inuvik Janssen Jarry-Desloges Jeans Jezero Jezža Joly Jones Kaiser Keeler Kepler Kinkora Kipini Knobel Koga Korolev Kufra Kuiper Kunowsky Lambert Lamont Lampland Lassell Lau Le Verrier Li Fan Liais Lipik Liu Hsin Llanesco Lockyer Lod Lohse Lomonosov Louth Lowell Lyell Lyot Mädler Magelhaens Maggini Main Mandora Maraldi Mariner Marth Martz Masursky Maunder McLaughlin McMurdo Mellish Mendel Mie Milankovic Millochau Mitchel Miyamoto Mohawk Mojave Molesworth Montevallo Moreux Müller Nansen Nereus Newton Nhill Nicholson Niesten Nipigon Onon Orson Welles Oudemans Palana Pangboche Pasteur Penticton Perepelkin Peridier Persbo Pettit Phillips Pickering Playfair Pollack Poona Porter Porth Priestley Proctor Ptolemaeus Puńsk Quenisset Rabe Radau Rahe Rayleigh Redi Renaudot Reuyl Reynolds Richardson Ritchey Robert Sharp Roddenberry Ross Rossby Rudaux Russell Rutherford Sagan Saheki Santa Maria Schaeberle Schiaparelli Schmidt Secchi Semeykin Sharonov Sibu Sinton Sitka Sklodowska Slipher Smith South Spallanzani Srīpur Steno Stokes Stoney Suess Suzhi Tarsus Taytay Teisserenc de Bort Terby Thila Thira Tikhonravov Tikhov Timbuktu Tombaugh Tooting Trouvelot Troy Trud Trumpler Tugaske Tycho Brahe Tyndall Udzha Vernal Very Victoria Cape Verde Vinogradov Vinogradsky Virrat Vishniac Vogel Von Kármán Vostok Wallace Wegener Weinbaum Wells Williams Winslow Wirtz Wislicenus Wright Yuty Zumba Zunil [Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals): - [Solar System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Solar_System) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aram Chaos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aram_Chaos) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aram_Chaos?action=history)). 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