DOCSLIB.ORG

Ongoing Exhumation and Recent Exposure of Sedimentary Outcrops on Mars

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ongoing Exhumation and Recent Exposure of Sedimentary Outcrops on Mars Western Washington University Western CEDAR WWU Graduate School Collection WWU Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarship Summer 2017 Ongoing Exhumation and Recent Exposure of Sedimentary Outcrops on Mars Joshua M. Williams Western Washington University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwuet Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Williams, Joshua M., "Ongoing Exhumation and Recent Exposure of Sedimentary Outcrops on Mars" (2017). WWU Graduate School Collection. 606. https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwuet/606 This Masters Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the WWU Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarship at Western CEDAR. It has been accepted for inclusion in WWU Graduate School Collection by an authorized administrator of Western CEDAR. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ONGOING EXHUMATION AND RECENT EXPOSURE OF SEDIMENTARY OUTCROPS ON MARS By Joshua M. Williams Accepted in Partial Completion of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Kathleen L. Kitto, Dean of the Graduate School ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chair, Dr. Melissa Rice Dr. Doug Clark Dr. Brady Foreman MASTER’S THESIS In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree at Western Washington University, I grant to Western Washington University the non-exclusive royalty-free right to archive, reproduce, distribute, and display the thesis in any and all forms, including electronic format, via any digital library mechanisms maintained by WWU. I represent and warrant this is my original work, and does not infringe or violate any rights of others. I warrant that I have obtained written permissions from the owner of any third party copyrighted material included in these files. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of this work, including but not limited to the right to use all or part of this work in future works, such as articles or books. Library users are granted permission for individual, research and non-commercial reproduction of this work for educational purposes only. Any further digital posting of this document requires specific permission from the author. Any copying or publication of this thesis for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, is not allowed without my written permission. Joshua M. Williams 26 May 2017 ONGOING EXHUMATION AND RECENT EXPOSURE OF SEDIMENTARY OUTCROPS ON MARS A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Western Washington University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science By Joshua M. Williams May 2017 ABSTRACT Determining the habitability of ancient environments on Mars and their biosignature preservation potential is a primary goal of all recent Mars exploration missions. Because cosmogenic radiation destroys organic biosignatures at the Martian surface, freshly-exposed outcrops that have been previously protected by overburden provide potential sites where organic biosignatures could be observed. Scarp retreat is one common mechanism for exposing fresh outcrop surfaces. The absence of liquid water on Mars leaves aeolian processes to be the dominant eroding agent, and aeolian erosion drives scarp retreat by undercutting erosion- resistant cap rock that fails and breaks off from outcrops. This continual action creates bays and headlands. This study uses three methods to identify regions with freshly-exposed scarp surfaces using orbital images: (1) scarp orientation mapping; (2) identification of calved boulders; (3) identification of dust and drift deposition by color stretch analysis. These methods were consistent with surface observations from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover in Gale crater. Scarp orientations in Gale crater show a distinct bay-signal (from the pattern of bays and headlands) that can be directly correlated with the known direction of ongoing aeolian scarp retreat. The bay-signal was also apparent at two of the Mars-2020 rover mission candidate landing sites: Eberswalde crater and Jezero crater. In a similar analysis of the Mars-2020 candidate landing sites Holden crater and Melas Basin, however, no clear bay-signal was identified. This work developed methods to detect recent scarp retreat on Mars and may provide a useful tool for identifying locations with high biosignature protection potential. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This manuscript greatly benefited from discussions with the late Nathan Bridges. Nathan was a science co-investigator with the Chemical Camera (ChemCam) instrument team. The ChemCam instrument is located on the Mast of the Curiosity rover, currently in Gale crater, Mars. Nathan was an aeolian processes expert and aided this study with his patient and valuable input. This manuscript was also benefited from input of M. Day and M. Chojnacki. We thank R. Sletten and B. Hallet (UW) for their input. WWU graduate student G. Speth is thanked for his assistance improving ArcGIS results in this study. The WWU Research-Writing Studio and C. Mead are recognized for their aid in improving this manuscript. Funding was provided by Western Washington University, the NASA Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientist Program, and a Mars student travel grant to attend the third 2020 Mars rover landing site workshop. Thank you to the tireless work of my advisor Dr. Melissa Rice and my committee members: Dr. Doug Clark and Dr. Brady Foreman. Thank you to all the NASA/JPL affiliated scientists for their collaboration. Thank you to my grandmother Christine Williams for her never-ending support. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................. v LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ...................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1 METHODS ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Scarp Mapping ………………......................................................................................................... 4 Boulder Identification …….......................................................................................................... 5 RESULTS ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Gale crater ................................................................................................................................. 5 Eberswalde Crater…................................................................................................................... 6 Jezero ……................................................................................................................................... 7 Melas Chasma ........................................................................................................................... 8 Holden …............................................................................................................................. 9 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................... 9 Gale Crater Ground-Truth Study and Interpretations …..……………………............................... 9 Bay Signal Landform Evolution Model ............................................................................... 11 Sedimentary Sites ............................................................................................................... 12 Eberswalde crater ........................................................................................................... 12 Jezero .............................................................................................................................. 14 Melas Chasma ................................................................................................................. 15 Holden Crater ……............................................................................................................ 15 Future Work ................................................................................................................. 16 CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................................... 17 REFERENCES CITED ...................................................................................................................... 19 FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................... 24 TABLES ......................................................................................................................................... 50 vi LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 1. Schematic of parallel scarp retreat at Yellowknife bay, Gale crater, Mars Figure 2. Boulder shedding off a scarp at Gale crater, Mars Figure 3. Yellowknife bay scarp orientations from orbital images and Curiosity rover images Figure 4. Yellowknife Bay area, Gale crater, Mars Figure 5. Gale crater scarp map area of Curiosity’s traverse Figure 6. Gale crater scarp map and orientations of scarps with partial sand accumulation
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Imaginative Geographies of Mars: the Science and Significance of the Red Planet, 1877 - 1910
    Copyright by Kristina Maria Doyle Lane 2006 The Dissertation Committee for Kristina Maria Doyle Lane Certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: IMAGINATIVE GEOGRAPHIES OF MARS: THE SCIENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RED PLANET, 1877 - 1910 Committee: Ian R. Manners, Supervisor Kelley A. Crews-Meyer Diana K. Davis Roger Hart Steven D. Hoelscher Imaginative Geographies of Mars: The Science and Significance of the Red Planet, 1877 - 1910 by Kristina Maria Doyle Lane, B.A.; M.S.C.R.P. Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Texas at Austin August 2006 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to Magdalena Maria Kost, who probably never would have understood why it had to be written and certainly would not have wanted to read it, but who would have been very proud nonetheless. Acknowledgments This dissertation would have been impossible without the assistance of many extremely capable and accommodating professionals. For patiently guiding me in the early research phases and then responding to countless followup email messages, I would like to thank Antoinette Beiser and Marty Hecht of the Lowell Observatory Library and Archives at Flagstaff. For introducing me to the many treasures held deep underground in our nation’s capital, I would like to thank Pam VanEe and Ed Redmond of the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. For welcoming me during two brief but productive visits to the most beautiful library I have seen, I thank Brenda Corbin and Gregory Shelton of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Performance and Contributions of the Green Industry to Utah's Economy
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Plan B and other Reports Graduate Studies 5-2021 Performance and Contributions of the Green Industry to Utah's Economy Lara Gale Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports Part of the Regional Economics Commons Recommended Citation Gale, Lara, "Performance and Contributions of the Green Industry to Utah's Economy" (2021). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports. 1551. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/1551 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Plan B and other Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PERFORMANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE GREEN INDUSTRY TO UTAH’S ECONOMY by Lara Gale A research paper submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Applied Economics Approved: ____________________________ ______________________________ Man Keun Kim, Ph.D. Ruby Ward, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member ____________________________ Larry Rupp, Ph.D. Committee Member UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2021 ii ABSTRACT PERFORMANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE GREEN INDUSTRY TO UTAH’S ECONOMY by Lara Gale, MS in Applied Economics Utah State University, 2021 Major Professor: Dr. Man Keun Kim Department: Applied Economics Landscaping and nursery enterprises, commonly known as green industry enterprises, can be found everywhere in Utah, and are necessary to create both aesthetic appeal and human well-being in the built environment. In order to understand the impact that events such as economic shocks or policy changes may have on the green industry, the baseline performance and contribution of the industry must be specified for comparison following these shocks.
    [Show full text]
  • Mawrth Vallis, Mars: a Fascinating Place for Future in Situ Exploration
    Mawrth Vallis, Mars: a fascinating place for future in situ exploration François Poulet1, Christoph Gross2, Briony Horgan3, Damien Loizeau1, Janice L. Bishop4, John Carter1, Csilla Orgel2 1Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS/Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France 2Institute of Geological Sciences, Planetary Sciences and Remote Sensing Group, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany 3Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA. 4SETI Institute/NASA-ARC, Mountain View, CA, USA Corresponding author: François Poulet, IAS, Bâtiment 121, CNRS/Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France; email: [email protected] Running title: Mawrth: a fascinating place for exploration 1 Abstract After the successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory rover, both NASA and ESA initiated a selection process for potential landing sites for the Mars2020 and ExoMars missions, respectively. Two ellipses located in the Mawrth Vallis region were proposed and evaluated during a series of meetings (3 for Mars2020 mission and 5 for ExoMars). We describe here the regional context of the two proposed ellipses as well as the framework of the objectives of these two missions. Key science targets of the ellipses and their astrobiological interests are reported. This work confirms the proposed ellipses contain multiple past Martian wet environments of subaerial, subsurface and/or subaqueous character, in which to probe the past climate of Mars, build a broad picture of possible past habitable environments, evaluate their exobiological potentials and search for biosignatures in well-preserved rocks. A mission scenario covering several key investigations during the nominal mission of each rover is also presented, as well as descriptions of how the site fulfills the science requirements and expectations of in situ martian exploration.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Orbital Evidence for Clay and Acidic Sulfate Assemblages on Mars Based on 2 Mineralogical Analogs from Rio Tinto, Spain 3 4 Hannah H
    1 Orbital Evidence for Clay and Acidic Sulfate Assemblages on Mars Based on 2 Mineralogical Analogs from Rio Tinto, Spain 3 4 Hannah H. Kaplan1*, Ralph E. Milliken1, David Fernández-Remolar2, Ricardo Amils3, 5 Kevin Robertson1, and Andrew H. Knoll4 6 7 Authors: 8 9 1 Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 10 Providence, RI, 02912 USA. 11 12 2British Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, NG12 5GG, UK. 13 14 3 Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Ctra Ajalvir km 4, Torrejon de Ardoz, 28850, 15 Spain. 16 17 4 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 18 Çambridge, MA, USA. 19 20 *Corresponding author: [email protected] 1 21 Abstract 22 23 Outcrops of hydrated minerals are widespread across the surface of Mars, 24 with clay minerals and sulfates being commonly identified phases. Orbitally-based 25 reflectance spectra are often used to classify these hydrated components in terms of 26 a single mineralogy, although most surfaces likely contain multiple minerals that 27 have the potential to record local geochemical conditions and processes. 28 Reflectance spectra for previously identified deposits in Ius and Melas Chasma 29 within the Valles Marineris, Mars, exhibit an enigmatic feature with two distinct 30 absorptions between 2.2 – 2.3 µm. This spectral ‘doublet’ feature is proposed to 31 result from a mixture of hydrated minerals, although the identity of the minerals has 32 remained ambiguous. Here we demonstrate that similar spectral doublet features 33 are observed in airborne, field, and laboratory reflectance spectra of rock and 34 sediment samples from Rio Tinto, Spain.
    [Show full text]
  • Martian Crater Morphology
    ANALYSIS OF THE DEPTH-DIAMETER RELATIONSHIP OF MARTIAN CRATERS A Capstone Experience Thesis Presented by Jared Howenstine Completion Date: May 2006 Approved By: Professor M. Darby Dyar, Astronomy Professor Christopher Condit, Geology Professor Judith Young, Astronomy Abstract Title: Analysis of the Depth-Diameter Relationship of Martian Craters Author: Jared Howenstine, Astronomy Approved By: Judith Young, Astronomy Approved By: M. Darby Dyar, Astronomy Approved By: Christopher Condit, Geology CE Type: Departmental Honors Project Using a gridded version of maritan topography with the computer program Gridview, this project studied the depth-diameter relationship of martian impact craters. The work encompasses 361 profiles of impacts with diameters larger than 15 kilometers and is a continuation of work that was started at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas under the guidance of Dr. Walter S. Keifer. Using the most ‘pristine,’ or deepest craters in the data a depth-diameter relationship was determined: d = 0.610D 0.327 , where d is the depth of the crater and D is the diameter of the crater, both in kilometers. This relationship can then be used to estimate the theoretical depth of any impact radius, and therefore can be used to estimate the pristine shape of the crater. With a depth-diameter ratio for a particular crater, the measured depth can then be compared to this theoretical value and an estimate of the amount of material within the crater, or fill, can then be calculated. The data includes 140 named impact craters, 3 basins, and 218 other impacts. The named data encompasses all named impact structures of greater than 100 kilometers in diameter.
    [Show full text]
  • Columbus Crater HLS2 Hangout: Exploration Zone Briefing
    Columbus Crater HLS2 Hangout: Exploration Zone Briefing Kennda Lynch1,2, Angela Dapremont2, Lauren Kimbrough2, Alex Sessa2, and James Wray2 1Lunar and Planetary Institute/Universities Space Research Association 2Georgia Institute of Technology Columbus Crater: An Overview • Groundwater-fed paleolake located in northwest region of Terra Sirenum • ~110 km in diameter • Diversity of Noachian & Hesperian aged deposits and outcrops • High diversity of aqueous mineral deposits • Estimated 1.5 km depth of sedimentary and/or volcanic infill • High Habitability and Biosignature Preservation Potential LZ & Field Station Latitude: 194.0194 E Longitude: 29.2058 S Altitude: +910 m SROI #1 RROI #1 LZ/HZ SROI #4 SROI #2 SROI #5 22 KM HiRISE Digital Terrain Model (DTM) • HiRISE DTMs are made from two images of the same area on the ground, taken from different look angles (known as a stereo-pair) • DTM’s are powerful research tools that allow researchers to take terrain measurements and model geological processes • For our traversability analysis of Columbus: • The HiRISE DTM was processed and completed by the University of Arizona HiRISE Operations Center. • DTM data were imported into ArcMap 10.5 software and traverses were acquired and analyzed using the 3D analyst tool. • A slope map was created in ArcMap to assess slope values along traverses as a supplement to topography observations. Slope should be ≤30°to meet human mission requirements. Conclusions Traversability • 9 out of the 17 traverses analyzed met the slope criteria for human missions. • This region of Columbus Crater is traversable and allows access to regions of astrobiological interest. It is also a possible access point to other regions of Terra Sirenum.
    [Show full text]
  • NASA Mars Exploration Strategy: “Follow the Water”
    Gullies on Mars -- Water or Not? Allan H. Treiman NASA Mars Exploration Strategy: “Follow the Water” Life W Climate A T Geology E Resources R Evidence of Water on Mars Distant Past Crater Degradation and Valley Networks ‘River’ Channels Flat Northern Lowlands Meteorites Carbonate in ALH84001 Clay in nakhlites MER Rover Sites Discoveries Hydrous minerals: jarosite! Fe2O3 from water (blueberries etc.) Silica & sulfate & phosphate deposits Recent Past (Any liquid?) Clouds & Polar Ice Ground Ice Valley Networks and Degraded Craters 1250 km River Channels - Giant Floods! 225 km 10 km craters River Channels - ‘Normal’ Flows 14 km 1 km River Channels from Rain? 700 km Science, July 2, 2004 19 km Ancient Martian Meteorite ALH84001 MER Opportunity - Heatshield and parachute. Jarosite - A Water-bearing Mineral Formed in Groundwater 3+ KFe3 (SO4)2(OH)6 2 Jarosite = K2SO4 + 3 Fe2O3 + 3 H2SO4 Hematite is in “Blueberries,” which still suggest water. Stone Mountain MER Spirit: Columbia Hills H2O Now: Clouds & Polar Caps Ground Ice – Mars Orbiter GRS Water abundances within a few meters depth of the Martian surface. Wm. Feldman. AAAS talk & Los Alamos Nat’l. Lab. Press Release, 15 Feb. 2003. (SPACE.com report, 16 Feb. 2003) So, Water on Mars !! So? Apparently, Mars has/had lots of water. Lots of evidence for ancient liquid water (> ~2 billion years ago), both surface and underground. Martian Gullies - Liquid Water or Not? Material flows down steep slopes, most commonly interpreted as water-bearing debris flows [Malin and Edgett (2000) Science 288, 2330]. Liquid water is difficult to produce and maintain near Mars’ surface, now.
    [Show full text]
  • Downselection of Landing Sites Proposed for the Mars 2020 Rover Mission
    47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2016) 2324.pdf DOWNSELECTION OF LANDING SITES PROPOSED FOR THE MARS 2020 ROVER MISSION. M. P. Golombek1, J. A. Grant2, K. A. Farley3, K. Williford1, A. Chen1, R. E. Otero1, and J. W. Ashley1, 1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109; 2Smithsonian Institution, Center for Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington, D.C. 20560, 3Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125. Introduction: The Mars 2020 mission would ex- suitable for addressing key planetary evolution ques- plore a site likely to have been habitable, seek signs of tions if and when they are returned to Earth. past life, prepare a returnable cache with the most Results of the voting were presented as the compelling samples, take the first steps towards in-situ weighted average (assigning 5 points to each green resource utilization on Mars, and demonstrate technol- vote, 3 to each yellow vote, and 1 to each red vote that ogy needed for future human and robotic exploration were then summed and divided by the total number of of Mars. The first landing site workshop identified and votes) and the mode (color receiving the most votes). prioritized 27 landing sites proposed by the science This ensured that participants could not skew the re- community according to science objectives that also sults by withholding votes from some sites. Both met the engineering constraints [1]. This abstract de- methods yield similar results and reveal a fall-off in scribes the downselection of landing sites that occurred support for sites ranked lower than the top nine or ten at the second landing site workshop and associated based on mode and average, respectively [2].
    [Show full text]
  • “Mining” Water Ice on Mars an Assessment of ISRU Options in Support of Future Human Missions
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration “Mining” Water Ice on Mars An Assessment of ISRU Options in Support of Future Human Missions Stephen Hoffman, Alida Andrews, Kevin Watts July 2016 Agenda • Introduction • What kind of water ice are we talking about • Options for accessing the water ice • Drilling Options • “Mining” Options • EMC scenario and requirements • Recommendations and future work Acknowledgement • The authors of this report learned much during the process of researching the technologies and operations associated with drilling into icy deposits and extract water from those deposits. We would like to acknowledge the support and advice provided by the following individuals and their organizations: – Brian Glass, PhD, NASA Ames Research Center – Robert Haehnel, PhD, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory – Patrick Haggerty, National Science Foundation/Geosciences/Polar Programs – Jennifer Mercer, PhD, National Science Foundation/Geosciences/Polar Programs – Frank Rack, PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Jason Weale, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Mining Water Ice on Mars INTRODUCTION Background • Addendum to M-WIP study, addressing one of the areas not fully covered in this report: accessing and mining water ice if it is present in certain glacier-like forms – The M-WIP report is available at http://mepag.nasa.gov/reports.cfm • The First Landing Site/Exploration Zone Workshop for Human Missions to Mars (October 2015) set the target
    [Show full text]
  • Implications for Mars 2020 Strategic Planning. J.I
    52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2021 (LPI Contrib. No. 2548) 1515.pdf CHARACTERIZING THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE NILI PLANUM REGION OUTSIDE JEZERO CRATER: IMPLICATIONS FOR MARS 2020 STRATEGIC PLANNING. J.I. Simon1, E.L. Scheller2, S. Holm- Alwmark3, K.C. Benison4, T. Bosak5, A.J. Brown6, L.E. Mayhew7, D.L. Shuster8, V. Sun9, B.P. Weiss5, N.R. Williams9, and the Mars 2020 Science Team. 1NASA JSC, TX ([email protected]), 2Caltech, CA, 3University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 4West Virginia University, WV, 5MIT, MA, 6Plancius Research, MD, 7University of Colorado Boulder, CO, 8UC Berkeley, CA, 9JPL/Caltech, CA. Introduction: The Mars 2020 team has developed plans for exploration and sample collection of the Nili On delta Planum region outside Jezero crater (Fig. 1) for the Near delta Far east possibility of an extended mission. This extended mission would follow and complement the exploration Sample of Jezero, as it expands investigations of the regional depots/ stratigraphy [1-2] to new settings and would likely Start extend the accessible geology ~1-2 billion years Areas in compared to the primary mission. This area has common representative units of Nili Fossae and the Nili Planum regions [3-6], including the canonical Noachian Basement, Olivine-carbonate Unit, Mafic Cap Unit, and putative younger fluvial-lacustrine deposits and presumably spans Pre-Noachian/Early Noachian to Figure 1: Region and suggested extended mission rover paths Hesperian time [1-4]. This stratigraphy likely records outside Jezero crater. Color coding indicate 3 paths that afford high prior surface and subsurface aqueous environments, priority science and sampling objectives in Nili Planum.
    [Show full text]
  • Possible Clastic Origin for Olivine-Rich Rocks in the Nili Fossae Region: Implications for NE Syrtis, Midway, and Jezero Landing Site Science
    Possible Clastic Origin for Olivine-Rich Rocks in the Nili Fossae Region: Implications for NE Syrtis, Midway, and Jezero Landing Site Science Christopher H. Kremer, John F. Mustard, and Michael S. Bramble Brown University Mars 2020 4th LSW October 17, 2018 Circum-Isidis Olivine-Rich Unit Mustard et al. (2009) Ehlmann and Mustard (2012) Goudge et al. (2015) Exposed at NE Syrtis, Midway, Enriched in Fo68-91 olivine Diversely altered, with exposures (~10-30%), widely distributed of carbonate with local exposures and Jezero including olivine-rich (Hamilton and Christensen, 2005) of serpentine and talc/saponite analog(?) in Columbia Hills (70,000 km2; Kremer et al., In Review) Previous Hypotheses and Observations Basement Olivine-rich unit 30 km 50 km (Rogers et al., 2018) (after Goudge et al., 2015) (Mustard et al., 2009) Moderate thermal inertia, minimal Unit superposes crater that is regolith or craters, yardangs: unit may be Intrusive origin ruled out by younger than the ~1900 km friable, potentially inconsistent with most superposition of basement diameter Isidis impact basin melt rocks unit Previous Hypotheses and Observations Basement Olivine-rich unit 50 km 30 km Kremer et al. In Review (after Goudge et al., 2015) (Mustard et al., 2009) Moderate thermal inertia, minimal Unit superposes crater that is regolith or craters, yardangs: unit may be Intrusive origin ruled out by younger than the ~1900 km friable, potentially inconsistent with most superposition of basement diameter Isidis impact basin melt rocks unit Hypotheses for Origins of Olivine-Rich Unit ??? Intrusive complex? Lava? (Hamilton and Non-Isidis Impact Sand lag deposit, erg, Volcanic ash?? (Hoefen et al., 2003) Christensen, 2005; condensate or or other epiclastic Tornabene et al., 2008) ejecta? (Rogers et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Mineralogy of the Martian Surface
    EA42CH14-Ehlmann ARI 30 April 2014 7:21 Mineralogy of the Martian Surface Bethany L. Ehlmann1,2 and Christopher S. Edwards1 1Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125; email: [email protected], [email protected] 2Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109 Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2014. 42:291–315 Keywords First published online as a Review in Advance on Mars, composition, mineralogy, infrared spectroscopy, igneous processes, February 21, 2014 aqueous alteration The Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences is online at earth.annualreviews.org Abstract This article’s doi: The past fifteen years of orbital infrared spectroscopy and in situ exploration 10.1146/annurev-earth-060313-055024 have led to a new understanding of the composition and history of Mars. Copyright c 2014 by Annual Reviews. Globally, Mars has a basaltic upper crust with regionally variable quanti- by California Institute of Technology on 06/09/14. For personal use only. All rights reserved ties of plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine associated with distinctive terrains. Enrichments in olivine (>20%) are found around the largest basins and Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2014.42:291-315. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org within late Noachian–early Hesperian lavas. Alkali volcanics are also locally present, pointing to regional differences in igneous processes. Many ma- terials from ancient Mars bear the mineralogic fingerprints of interaction with water. Clay minerals, found in exposures of Noachian crust across the globe, preserve widespread evidence for early weathering, hydrothermal, and diagenetic aqueous environments. Noachian and Hesperian sediments include paleolake deposits with clays, carbonates, sulfates, and chlorides that are more localized in extent.
    [Show full text]