Washington University in St. Louis Washington University Open Scholarship All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) Spring 5-1-2014 Materials and Surface Processes at Gale Crater and the Moons of Mars Derived from High Spatial and Spectral Resolution Orbital Datasets Abigail Ann Fraeman Washington University in St. Louis Follow this and additional works at: https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/etd Recommended Citation Fraeman, Abigail Ann, "Materials and Surface Processes at Gale Crater and the Moons of Mars Derived from High Spatial and Spectral Resolution Orbital Datasets" (2014). All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs). 1234. https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/etd/1234 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by Washington University Open Scholarship. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) by an authorized administrator of Washington University Open Scholarship. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Dissertation Examination Committee: Raymond Arvidson, Chair Jeffrey Catalano Martin Israel Bradley Jolliff William McKinnon Materials and Surface Processes at Gale Crater and the Moons of Mars Derived from High Spatial and Spectral Resolution Orbital Datasets by Abigail Ann Fraeman A dissertation presented to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2014 St. Louis, Missouri © 2014, Abigail Ann Fraeman TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION ...................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Dissertation ............................................................................... 1 References Cited ......................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2: Analysis of Disk-Resolved OMEGA and CRISM Spectral Observations of Phobos and Deimos ....................................................................................................................... 9 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Overview of Data Sets ........................................................................................................ 11 2.3 Retrieval of Spectrophotometric Properties ........................................................................ 14 2.3.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................... 14 2.3.2 Solar-dominated regime ............................................................................................... 16 2.3.3. Mixed solar and thermal regimes ................................................................................ 18 2.4 Analysis of Phobos and Deimos Spectra ............................................................................ 20 2.4.1 Search for spectral absorption features ........................................................................ 20 2.4.2 Comparisons to laboratory spectra............................................................................... 21 2.4.3 Effects of space weathering ......................................................................................... 23 2.5 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................. 25 2.6 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 26 2.7 Tables .................................................................................................................................. 27 ii 2.8 Figures................................................................................................................................. 29 2.9 References Cited ................................................................................................................. 42 Chapter 3: Spectral Absorptions on Phobos and Deimos in the Visible/Near Infrared Wavelengths and Their Compositional Constraints ................................................................ 49 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 49 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 50 3.2 Data Reductions and Visible/Near-Infrared Absorptions in CRISM Observations ........... 51 3.3 Spectral Analysis ................................................................................................................ 53 3.3.1 Standard band depth mapping ...................................................................................... 53 3.3.2 Spectral feature at 0.65 µm observed in multiple datasets .......................................... 54 3.3.3 Spectral feature at 2.8 µm ............................................................................................ 57 3.4 Comparison to Asteroid Spectra ......................................................................................... 59 3.5 Comparison to Lab Spectra ................................................................................................. 61 3.5.1 Spectral feature at 0.65 µm .......................................................................................... 61 3.5.2 Spectral feature at 2.8 μm ............................................................................................ 63 3.6 Discussion and Compositional Interpretations ................................................................... 64 3.6.1 Hypothesis as desiccated phyllosiliciates .................................................................... 64 3.6.2 Exogenic hypotheses: nanophase Fe and solar wind implanted H .............................. 65 3.7 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 67 3.8 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 68 3.9 Figures................................................................................................................................. 69 3.10 References Cited ............................................................................................................... 77 iii Chapter 4: A Hematite-Bearing Layer in Gale Crater: Mapping and Implications for Past Aqueous Conditions .................................................................................................................... 85 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 85 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 85 4.2 Spatial Processing of CRISM Along-Track Oversampled Data ......................................... 87 4.3 Mapping of Crystalline Hematite and Additional Mineral Phases ..................................... 88 4.4 Hematite Ridge Geology Setting and Formation Hypotheses ............................................ 89 4.5 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 93 4.6 Figures................................................................................................................................. 94 4.7 Reference Cited ................................................................................................................... 98 Chapter 5: Future In Situ Observation of the Hematite Ridge with Curiosity ................... 102 Abstract ................................................................................................................................... 102 5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 102 5.2 Background: Curiosity Payload ........................................................................................ 103 5.2.1 Mast-mounted remote sensing instruments ............................................................... 103 5.2.2 Arm contact science instruments ............................................................................... 104 5.2.3 Rover body instruments ............................................................................................. 105 5.3 Curiosity’s Initial Observations of the Ridge ................................................................... 106 5.4 Ridge Approach and Initial Reconnaissance .................................................................... 108 5.5 Distinguishing