Murray J. B. * Muller J.-P. Neukum G. Werner S. C. Hauber E. Markiewicz W. J. Head J. W. III Foing B. H. Page D. Mitchell K. L. Portyankina G. HRSC Investigator Team.

Evidence from HRSC Mars Express for a Frozen Sea Close to Mars' Equator [#1741].

"We present evidence for a presently-existing frozen sea, with surface pack-ice, at 5 °N, 150 °E, age ca. 5 million years. It measures ca. 800 × 900 km and averages ca. 45 m deep. It has probably been protected from complete sublimation by ash and a sublimation lag of exposed sediment."

Whole session link:

ftp://www.lpi.usra.edu/pub/outgoing/lpsc2005/full97.pdf

That's the reference. You should read it and make up your own mind but my professional advice is that these people are placing great importance on what they "think" ice floes look like and what they "think" platy lava flows *don't* look like, based on what they know from Earth.

Since Mars has larger and more spectacular platy lava flows than Earth, I don't think their Earth experience is adequate for the job.

I find a platy lava flow explanation entirely sufficient to explain the images - a ponded lava flow temporarily flooded the area then the level of lava fell as it drained, leaving the stranded plates.

The "differences" in crater dates are, IMHO, due to statistical uncertainty and to weathering processes concealing some craters on some terrains.

That takes the plug out of their bath...

As I keep saying, "Mars is Mars-like" and to understand it we need to think outside the Earthly box.