Geography on Mars

• Third order of relief and deep time on Mars

• Geological periods (actually eons in Earth terms)
• Noachian period: formation of planet 4.6 Ga to tapering off of the Late Heavy Bombardment of the solar system ~3.75 Ga
• dense cratering of a wide variety of sizes
• planetary magnetic field starts and collapses
• denser atmosphere, possibly warmer
• above water's triple point
• ground and surface water:
• ocean, seas, and lakes
• valley networks
• neutral or alkaline hydrochemistry (phyllosilicate clays)
• volcanic activity starts and then concentrates spatially
• only period potentially friendly to life "as we know it, Jim"