Geologic map of the Noachis Quadrangle of Mars

The Noachis quadrangle is in the ancient cratered highlands of Mars. Craters dominate the surface of the planet in this area; most are of impact origin, some are of volcanic, origin, and some are of undetermined origin. Martian craters are I general similar in morphology of lunar craters but are more degraded. Analogous morphologies and size-frequency distributions of lunar and Martian craters indicate that both populations are mostly of impact origin (McCauley and others, 1972). Martian 10 pictures of Mercury suggest similar trends on that planet, a further indication that the crating process was exogenous.