Geologic overview of the Mars Science Laboratory rover mission at the Kimberley, Gale crater, Mars
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover completed a detailed investigation at the Kimberley waypoint within Gale crater from sols 571–634 using its full science instrument payload. From orbital images examined early in the Curiosity mission, the Kimberley region had been identified as a high-priority science target based on its clear stratigraphic relationships in a layered sedimentary sequence that had been exposed by differential erosion. Observations of the stratigraphic sequence at the Kimberley made by Curiosity are consistent with deposition in a prograding, fluvio-deltaic system during the late Noachian to early Hesperian, prior to the existence of most of Mount Sharp. Geochemical and mineralogic analyses suggest that sediment deposition likely took place under cold conditions with relatively low water-to-rock ratios. Based on elevated K2O abundances throughout the Kimberley formation, an alkali feldspar protolith is likely one of several igneous sources from which the sediments were derived. After deposition, the rocks underwent multiple episodes of diagenetic alteration with different aqueous chemistries and redox conditions, as evidenced by the presence of Ca-sulfate veins, Mn-oxide fracture fills, and erosion-resistant nodules. More recently, the Kimberley has been subject to significant aeolian abrasion and removal of sediments to create modern topography that slopes away from Mount Sharp, a process that has continued to the present day.
Date Issued
2017-01-28
Date Acceptance
2016-11-30
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2017, 122 (1), pp.2-20
ISSN
2169-9097
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Start Page
2
End Page
20
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Volume
122
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2016 American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Rice, M. S., et al. (2017), Geologic overview of the Mars Science Laboratory rover mission at the Kimberley, Gale crater, Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 122, 2–20, (doi:10.1002/2016JE005200). To view the published open abstract, go to: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2016JE005200.
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000395090900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mars Science Laboratory
Gale crater
sediment provenance
diagenesis
fluvio-deltaic processes
landscape evolution
PEACE VALLIS FAN
IN-SITU
CONSTRAINTS
MINERALOGY
ROCKS
EVOLUTION
ORIGIN
SPECTROSCOPY
SANDSTONE
DEPOSITS
Publication Status
Published