Common Analogs in Northern Arizona
Detailed Description
- Black Point Lava Flow – An analog for basaltic volcanism overlying ancient sedimentary deposits. Also used for science operations testing.
- Cinder Lake Crater Field – Cinder field with craters that were generated to replicate part of Mare Tranquillitatis. Used as an analog for traverse studies, navigation, and mobility.
- Grand Canyon – A complex history of deposition, erosion, and tectonic processes. Used as an analog for stratigraphic relationships, active fluvial processes, and the intersection of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
- Hopi Buttes Volcanic Field – Contains ~ 300 maars and diatremes. An analog for phreatomagmatic volcanism, as well as navigation and traverse planning among volcanic craters.
- Lava River Cave – An easily accessible km-long lava tube, with perennial ice deposits, used as an analog for volcanic terrains, sites to support human exploration, and in situ resource utilization.
- Meteor Crater – One of the best-preserved impact craters on the Earth, used as an analog for impact processes stratigraphic relationships.
- S P Mountain – An analog for basaltic volcanism and landscape evolution, also used for navigation and traverse planning in diverse terrains.
- Sunset Crater - An analog for basaltic volcanism. Also used for science operations testing.
- Verde Valley - An analog for studying habitability, with a rich history of interbedded sedimentary and volcanic deposits; including fluvial, lacustrine and spring deposits, and lava-water interactions.
Sources/Usage
Public Domain.
Public Domain