---
type: entity
entity_type: research_program
name: Alba Mons Lava Tube System
domain: space-development
status: characterized
---

# Alba Mons Lava Tube System

**Location:** 40.47°N, 250.4°E (Arcadia quadrangle, Mars)
**Status:** Morphologically characterized, not thermally characterized
**Significance:** Strongest known Mars settlement co-location candidate for radiation shielding and water ISRU

## Overview

Alba Mons is a broad shield volcano hosting documented lava tube systems on its western flank, with ice-rich mantling deposits overlying the volcanic structure itself. At 40.47°N, it sits within the brine-active zone (>30°N) and adjacent to Arcadia Planitia's excess ice deposits.

## Key Features

**Lava Tubes:**
- Large concentration of lava tube systems on western flank (Crown et al. 2022)
- Morphologically characterized but not thermally characterized
- Provide standard Mars lava tube radiation shielding: ~20x GCR dose reduction at 6.25m depth to ~12 mSv/year

**Water Ice:**
- Ice-rich mantling deposits directly overlie Alba Mons features (Crown et al. 2022)
- Pedestal craters, infilled craters, heavily mantled lava flow margins on northern distal flanks
- Within 2 degrees latitude of Amazonis Planitia shallow ice sites (AP-1, AP-8, AP-9)
- Located in brine-active zone (>30°N) with seasonal near-surface melting

## Co-location Advantage

Alba Mons is the only Mars site currently characterized where:
1. Lava tube radiation shielding is documented
2. Ice-rich deposits exist on the same volcanic structure
3. Location falls within the brine-active zone for liquid water access

This makes it a stronger settlement co-location candidate than Elysium Mons (24-29°N, outside shallow ice zone) despite Elysium having a more thoroughly studied skylight.

## Limitations

- Lava tubes are morphologically characterized only (Crown 2022), not thermally characterized like Elysium Mons skylight
- Northern latitude (40°N) means colder surface temperatures
- Tube accessibility relative to ice deposits requires site-specific analysis
- Lower altitude than other Tharsis volcanoes but gentler slopes

## Timeline

- **2022** — Crown et al. publish "Distribution and Morphology of Lava Tube Systems on the Western Flank of Alba Mons, Mars" in JGR:Planets, documenting large lava tube concentration and ice-rich mantling deposits
- **2025** — Luzzi et al. document near-surface ice at Amazonis Planitia sites within 2 degrees latitude of Alba Mons
- **2025** — Nature Communications marsquake study confirms brine-active zone >30°N, placing Alba Mons within seasonal liquid water access region