Karst on Mars? The thumbprint terrain

Abstract

The nature of the 'thumbprint' terrain noted by Guest et al. (1977) in high-resolution Viking Orbiter photographs of the northern plains of Mars is considered in light of plausible terrestrial analogs. At least some portion of such terrain may be due to differential solution of large carbonate deposits located in low-lying areas; comparative morphology may therefore indicate it to be an analog of the arid karst of Australia's Nullabor Plain, provided that groundwater flow was available during the terrain's formative period on Mars.