What are the relative ages of the heavily cratered Southern highlands and the smooth Northern plains of Mars?
A) the highlands and the plains are the same age
B) it is impossible to tell unless we know the specific geological processes that occurred in each hemisphere
C) the plains are older than the highlands
D) the highlands are older than the plains

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The heavily cratered Southern highlands are believed to be the oldest surface on Mars, dating back to the planet's early history around 3.8 to 4.1 billion years ago. The smooth Northern plains, on the other hand, are believed to have formed more recently, around 3-3.5 billion years ago. Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.

What Are the Relative Ages of the Heavily Cratered Southern