Stratigraphy and paleohydrology of delta channel deposits, Jezero crater, Mars

Goudge, T. A.; Mohrig, David; Cardenas, B. T.; Hughes, C. M.; Fassett, C. I.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2017.09.034

Cited by 93 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…From apex to front, the delta deposit is~6 km long, but exposures to the east suggest the deposit once (1) alongside a modern aeolian bedform field (2). extended at least another 3 km into the crater and that~2.7 km 3 of material have been removed (Goudge et al, 2018). extended at least another 3 km into the crater and that~2.7 km 3 of material have been removed (Goudge et al, 2018).…”

Section: Aeolian Erosion Of the Delta Depositmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Removal by aeolian abrasion and transport is supported by interpretations that Jezero sits in a high sand flux region of Mars where abundant sand would make abrasion more efficient. At the lowest end, eroding 3 km of~50-m-thick delta deposit (Goudge et al, 2018) would require at least 5 billion years. At the lowest end, eroding 3 km of~50-m-thick delta deposit (Goudge et al, 2018) would require at least 5 billion years.…”

Section: Aeolian Erosion Of the Delta Depositmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wind in Jezero Crater, Mars

Day

Dorn

2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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Wind generates erosional and depositional morphologies across Mars, including in Jezero crater, the planned landing site for the Mars 2020 rover. Known for subaqueously formed sedimentary features, Jezero crater also hosts wind‐formed features that provide insights about the local wind regime. We combine interpretations from dunes, wind streaks, transverse aeolian ridges, and yardangs to holistically understand the recent history of wind in Jezero crater. Together, these features describe modern easterly winds trending toward 263° ± 8° and older southwesterly winds that formed small yardangs. Previous research has suggested that aeolian processes eroded the delta deposit in Jezero crater. We propose early southwesterly winds removed the majority of material, exposing the more lithified units seen today. Modern easterly winds continue to cause erosion, but lithologic heterogeneities remain the dominant control on delta deposit evolution. Aeolian erosion has accentuated existing sedimentary structures, leaving the striking delta remnant seen today.

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Section: Aeolian Erosion Of the Delta Depositmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Aeolian Erosion Of the Delta Depositmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wind in Jezero Crater, Mars

Day

Dorn

2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…However, suites of observed geomorphological features (channels, deltas, layered basin materials, etc.) can provide strong evidence that water gathered in a given basin for some duration (Goudge et al, ). Such geomorphological evidence is in some cases corroborated by infrared evidence for minerals consistent with lacustrine deposits (clay minerals, sulfates, chlorides, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Geology and Astrobiology of McLaughlin Crater, Mars: An Ancient Lacustrine Basin Containing Turbidites, Mudstones, and Serpentinites

et al. 2019

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McLaughlin crater is a 92‐km diameter complex crater that formed on Mars ~4 billion years ago. The resulting basin was the site of a large (~3,000 km2), deep (~500 m), voluminous (~1,500 km3) Martian lake circa 3.8 Ga. While there is strong evidence that hundreds of lakes have existed on Mars at some point during the same time period, the geology of McLaughlin crater is extraordinary for a number of reasons. Detailed spectral analyses show that the deep‐water sediments include detrital inputs of olivine and pyroxene, but the lake‐floor sediments include lithologies with abundant Fe‐rich, Mg‐bearing smectite, serpentine‐rich deposits, and ferrihydrite. For astrobiologists, this site provides a treasure trove of high‐priority targets. Serpentinization reactions are thought to have played a key role in abiogenesis on Earth, and within McLaughlin crater, deposits of subterranean and probably sublacustrine serpentinites are well preserved. In addition, delta sequences are well exposed throughout the east side of the basin; such deposits are endorsed by some as the highest priority targets for preservation of organics on Mars. Yet deep‐water turbidites, which might have flowed through hydrothermal environments, may be the most intriguing aspect of this geology. Such rapid sedimentation could have sequestered and preserved any potential organic materials for future exploration by a rover.

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“…Jezero contains several lacustrine deltas and fans (Goudge et al. , ) fed by a large watershed interpreted to have been active in the late Noachian (Fassett and Head ). The crater rim is composed of the regional altered basement and is partially mantled by the same regional carbonate‐ and olivine‐bearing unit as at NE Syrtis (Goudge et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential science and engineering value of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return

Beaty¹,

Grady²,

McSween³

et al. 2019

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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Executive Summary Return of samples from the surface of Mars has been a goal of the international Mars science community for many years. Affirmation by NASA and ESA of the importance of Mars exploration led the agencies to establish the international MSR Objectives and Samples Team (iMOST). The purpose of the team is to re‐evaluate and update the sample‐related science and engineering objectives of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. The iMOST team has also undertaken to define the measurements and the types of samples that can best address the objectives. Seven objectives have been defined for MSR, traceable through two decades of previously published international priorities. The first two objectives are further divided into sub‐objectives. Within the main part of the report, the importance to science and/or engineering of each objective is described, critical measurements that would address the objectives are specified, and the kinds of samples that would be most likely to carry key information are identified. These seven objectives provide a framework for demonstrating how the first set of returned Martian samples would impact future Martian science and exploration. They also have implications for how analogous investigations might be conducted for samples returned by future missions from other solar system bodies, especially those that may harbor biologically relevant or sensitive material, such as Ocean Worlds (Europa, Enceladus, Titan) and others. Summary of Objectives and Sub‐Objectives for MSR Identified by iMOST This objective is divided into five sub‐objectives that would apply at different landing sites. 1.1 Characterize the essential stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and facies variations of a sequence of Martian sedimentary rocks. 1.2 Understand an ancient Martian hydrothermal system through study of its mineralization products and morphological expression. 1.3 Understand the rocks and minerals representative of a deep subsurface groundwater environment. 1.4 Understand water/rock/atmosphere interactions at the Martian surface and how they have changed with time. 1.5 Determine the petrogenesis of Martian igneous rocks in time and space. This objective has three sub‐objectives: 2.1 Assess and characterize carbon, including possible organic and pre‐biotic chemistry. 2.2 Assay for the presence of biosignatures of past life at sites that hosted habitable environments and could have preserved any biosignatures. 2.3 Assess the possibility that any life forms detected are alive, or were recently alive. Summary of iMOST Findings Several specific findings were identified during the iMOST study. While they are not explicit recommendations, we suggest that they should serve as guidelines for future decision making regarding planning of potential future MSR missions. The samples to be collected by the Mars 2020 (M‐2020) rover will be of sufficient size and quality to address and solve a wide variety of scientific questions. Samples, by definition, are a statistical representation of a larger entity...

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Stratigraphy and paleohydrology of delta channel deposits, Jezero crater, Mars

Cited by 93 publications

References 67 publications

Wind in Jezero Crater, Mars

Wind in Jezero Crater, Mars

The Geology and Astrobiology of McLaughlin Crater, Mars: An Ancient Lacustrine Basin Containing Turbidites, Mudstones, and Serpentinites

The potential science and engineering value of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return

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