<p>The geological term <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa" rel="nofollow noreferrer">mesa</a> has been used to describe these structures.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A transitional zone on Mars, known as the fretted terrain, lies between highly cratered highlands and less cratered lowlands. The younger lowland exhibits steep walled mesas and knobs. The mesa and knobs are separated by flat lying lowlands. They are thought to form from ice-facilitated mass wasting processes from ground or atmospheric sources. The mesas and knobs decrease in size with increasing distance from the highland escarpment. The relief of the mesas range from nearly 2 km to 100 m depending on the distance they are from the escarpment.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Mesa is a term used to describe flat topped isolated geological structures that are composed of horizontal layered rocks (usually sedimentary).</p>

<p>If the flat topped structure is not composed of horizontal layered rocks it can be called a plateau or tableland.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-22T04:01:20.017Z
2019-12-22T04:01:20.017Z
Fred
<p>At the western end of Valles Marineris, where it mets Noctis Labyrinthus (<a href="https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/4324?__fsk=-59356765" rel="nofollow noreferrer">highlighted section of image</a>) </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/NWHnW.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/NWHnW.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>there are a series of flat geological formations between the canyons.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qkA6r.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qkA6r.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Is there a unique term for these formations, or even one borrowed from Earth's geology?</p>

<p>Has the individual sections of these formations been named? </p>

<mars><terminology><geology>
Is there a general term used to identify the high flat features within Noctis Labyrinthus on Mars?
Bob516
# Is there a general term used to identify the high flat features within Noctis Labyrinthus on Mars?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-22)

At the western end of Valles Marineris, where it mets Noctis Labyrinthus ([highlighted section of image](https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/4324?__fsk=-59356765))

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/NWHnW.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/NWHnW.png)

there are a series of flat geological formations between the canyons.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/qkA6r.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/qkA6r.png)

Is there a unique term for these formations, or even one borrowed from Earth's geology?

Has the individual sections of these formations been named?

**Tags:** mars, terminology, geology


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-22. Score: 3

The geological term [mesa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa) has been used to describe these structures.

> A transitional zone on Mars, known as the fretted terrain, lies between highly cratered highlands and less cratered lowlands. The younger lowland exhibits steep walled mesas and knobs. The mesa and knobs are separated by flat lying lowlands. They are thought to form from ice-facilitated mass wasting processes from ground or atmospheric sources. The mesas and knobs decrease in size with increasing distance from the highland escarpment. The relief of the mesas range from nearly 2 km to 100 m depending on the distance they are from the escarpment.

Mesa is a term used to describe flat topped isolated geological structures that are composed of horizontal layered rocks (usually sedimentary).

If the flat topped structure is not composed of horizontal layered rocks it can be called a plateau or tableland.


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