Geometrical attributes and shape characterization of pits and pit chains in Noctis Labyrinthus (Mars)

This study examines the relationships among faults, grabens, and pits in Noctis Labyrinthus to provide additional constraints on the formation model proposed for this region of Mars (El Yazidi et al., 2024). We analyze displacement–length scaling relationships, fault morphometric properties, and intensity maps of fault frequency, cumulative length, and vertical displacement, together with fault-length datasets derived from the structural map of El Yazidi et al. (2024). Statistical analyses of fault attribute scaling relationships are conducted. Particular emphasis is placed on the spatial distribution of faulting in extensional settings and on the localization of faults relative to pits and pit chains in Noctis Labyrinthus. The results indicate a direct relationship between pit development and fault systems in Noctis Labyrinthus. Areas of high fault intensity correspond to zones of elevated stress accumulation, which favor the formation of pits and pit chains. These highly tectonized areas, interpreted as mechanical weak zones, preferentially host pit formation and pit-chain development. Faults and grabens represent primary structural controls on pit formation, although pit development locally modifies their geometries. The formation history of Noctis Labyrinthus reflects complex, large-scale tectonic and volcanic processes that have significantly shaped the surface morphology. These processes produced a branched and interconnected network of troughs, and their analysis contributes to an improved understanding of the geodynamic processes operating on planetary surfaces.