Sedimentary textures formed by aqueous processes, Erebus crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars

Grotzinger, J. P.; Bell, James F.; Herkenhoff, K. E.; Johnson, J. R.; Knoll, Andrew H.; McCartney, Elaina; McLennan, Scott M.; Metz, Joannah M.; Moore, John D.; Squyres, S. W.; Sullivan, R.; Ahronson, O.; Arvidson, R. E.; Joliff, B. L.; Golombek, M. P.; Lewis, K. W.; Parker, T. J.; Soderblom, Jason M.

doi:10.1130/g22985a.1

Cited by 87 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…6). Several examples of small-scale trough crosslamination and shrinkage cracks at Erebus crater were previously described by Squyres et al (2006) and Grotzinger et al (2006). Some facies could be correlated between a few adjacent outcrop blocks, but there were no facies patterns that could be correlated across the Olympia outcrop due to their displacement and rotation.…”

Section: Olympia Outcrop Stratigraphymentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The sulfate-rich bedrock exposed along the walls at Eagle and Endurance craters has been interpreted by the MER team to have been deposited in an eolian dune-interdune environment Grotzinger et al 2005;Grotzinger et al 2006). This interpretation of the outcrops has been challenged by McCollom and Hynek (2005) and Knauth et al (2005), who suggested that volcanic or impact-related sedimentation was responsible for the deposition of the Meridiani bedrock.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Notably, all of this deformation does not seem to affect the lower (cracked) part of lower Overgaard, suggesting bedding-parallel shortening above a distinct surface of detachment. However, the lowermost part of lower Overgaard also seems to contain a zone of folding; here, folds seem to be onlapped by younger laminae containing the planar cracks described in Grotzinger et al (2006). Skull Valley contains a distinct zone, localized near the upper part of the rock, which likely also involves soft-sediment deformation ( Fig.…”

Section: Synsedimentary Deformed Sandstonementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These occurrences were described in Grotzinger et al (2006) and are interpreted as shrinkage cracks formed during desiccation of damp sediments.…”

Section: Synsedimentary Deformed Sandstonementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The potential small-scale troughs are not well exposed, and the resolution of the images in the areas with the potential troughs is not sufficient to identify them unambiguously. The Olympia outcrop, however, contains several areas that show well-exposed small-scale trough cross-lamination, described in Squyres et al (2006) and Grotzinger et al (2006). Small-scale trough cross-lamination (also known as festoon cross-lamination) is formed by migration of three-dimensional ripple bedforms with sinuous crestlines that climb at generally positive angles in flowing water (Rubin 1987).…”

Section: Small-scale Trough Cross-laminated To Wavy-laminated Sandstonementioning

confidence: 99%

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Sulfate-Rich Eolian and Wet Interdune Deposits, Erebus Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars

Metz

Grotzinger

Rubin

et al. 2009

Journal of Sedimentary Research

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This study investigates three bedrock exposures at Erebus crater, an , 300 m diameter crater approximately 4 km south of Endurance crater on Mars. These outcrops, called Olympia, Payson, and Yavapai, provide additional evidence in support of the dune-interdune model proposed for the formation of the deposits at the Opportunity landing site in Meridiani Planum. There is evidence for greater involvement of liquid water in the Olympia outcrop exposures than was observed in Eagle or Endurance craters. The Olympia outcrop likely formed in a wet interdune and sand sheet environment. The facies observed within the Payson outcrop, which is likely stratigraphically above the Olympia outcrop, indicate that it was deposited in a damp-wet interdune, sand sheet, and eolian dune environment. The Yavapai outcrop, which likely stratigraphically overlies the Payson outcrop, indicates that it was deposited in primarily a sand sheet environment and also potentially in an eolian dune environment. These three outcrop exposures may indicate an overall drying-upward trend spanning the stratigraphic section from its base at the Olympia outcrop to its top at the Yavapai outcrop. This contrasts with the wetting-upward trend seen in Endurance and Eagle craters. Thus, the series of outcrops seen at Meridiani by Opportunity may constitute a full climatic cycle, evolving from dry to wet to dry conditions.

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Section: Olympia Outcrop Stratigraphymentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Synsedimentary Deformed Sandstonementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These occurrences were described in Grotzinger et al (2006) and are interpreted as shrinkage cracks formed during desiccation of damp sediments.…”

Section: Synsedimentary Deformed Sandstonementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Small-scale Trough Cross-laminated To Wavy-laminated Sandstonementioning

confidence: 99%

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Sulfate-Rich Eolian and Wet Interdune Deposits, Erebus Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars

Metz

Grotzinger

Rubin

et al. 2009

Journal of Sedimentary Research

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Aqueous history of Mars as inferred from landed mission measurements of rocks, soils, and water ice

Arvidson¹

2016

JGR Planets

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The missions that have operated on the surface of Mars acquired data that complement observations acquired from orbit and provide information that would not have been acquired without surface measurements. Data from the Viking Landers demonstrated that soils have basaltic compositions, containing minor amounts of salts and one or more strong oxidants. Pathfinder with its rover confirmed that the distal portion of Ares Vallis is the site of flood‐deposited boulders. Spirit found evidence for hydrothermal deposits surrounding the Home Plate volcanoclastic feature. Opportunity discovered that the hematite signature on Meridiani Planum as seen from orbit is due to hematitic concretions concentrated on the surface as winds eroded sulfate‐rich sandstones that dominate the Burns formation. The sandstones originated as playa muds that were subsequently reworked by wind and rising groundwater. Opportunity also found evidence on the rim of the Noachian Endurance Crater for smectites, with extensive leaching along fractures. Curiosity acquired data at the base of Mount Sharp in Gale Crater that allows reconstruction of a sustained fluvial‐deltaic‐lacustrine system prograding into the crater. Smectites and low concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons have been identified in the lacustrine deposits. Phoenix, landing above the Arctic Circle, found icy soils, along with low concentrations of perchlorate salt. Perchlorate is considered to be a strong candidate for the oxidant found by the Viking Landers. It is also a freezing point depressant and may play a role in allowing brines to exist at and beneath the surface in more modern periods of time on Mars.

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Diverse Lithologies and Alteration Events on the Rim of Noachian‐Aged Endeavour Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars: In Situ Compositional Evidence

et al. 2018

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We report the results of geological studies by the Opportunity Mars rover on the Endeavour Crater rim. Four major units occur in the region (oldest to youngest): the Matijevic, Shoemaker, Grasberg, and Burns formations. The Matijevic formation, consisting of fine‐grained clastic sediments, is the only pre‐Endeavour‐impact unit and might be part of the Noachian etched units of Meridiani Planum. The Shoemaker formation is a heterogeneous polymict impact breccia; its lowermost member incorporates material eroded from the underlying Matijevic formation. The Shoemaker formation is a close analog to the Bunte Breccia of the Ries Crater, although the average clast sizes are substantially larger in the latter. The Grasberg formation is a thin, fine‐grained, homogeneous sediment unconformably overlying the Shoemaker formation and likely formed as an airfall deposit of unknown areal extent. The Burns formation sandstone overlies the Grasberg, but compositions of the two units are distinct; there is no evidence that the Grasberg formation is a fine‐grained subfacies of the Burns formation. The rocks along the Endeavour Crater rim were affected by at least four episodes of alteration in the Noachian and Early Hesperian: (i) vein formation and alteration of preimpact Matijevic formation rocks, (ii) low‐water/rock alteration along the disconformity between the Matijevic and Shoemaker formations, (iii) alteration of the Shoemaker formation along fracture zones, and (iv) differential mobilization of Fe and Mn, and CaSO4‐vein formation in the Grasberg and Shoemaker formations. Episodes (ii) and (iii) possibly occurred together, but (i) and (iv) are distinct from either of these.

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Sedimentary textures formed by aqueous processes, Erebus crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars

Cited by 87 publications

References 10 publications

Sulfate-Rich Eolian and Wet Interdune Deposits, Erebus Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars

Sulfate-Rich Eolian and Wet Interdune Deposits, Erebus Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars

Aqueous history of Mars as inferred from landed mission measurements of rocks, soils, and water ice

Diverse Lithologies and Alteration Events on the Rim of Noachian‐Aged Endeavour Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars: In Situ Compositional Evidence

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