The Chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and Role of Diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as Observed by the ChemCam Instrument
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
The Chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and Role of Diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as Observed by the ChemCam Instrument. / Frydenvang, J.; Mangold, N.; Wiens, R. C.; Fraeman, A. A.; Edgar, L. A.; Fedo, C. M.; L'Haridon, J.; Bedford, C. C.; Gupta, Sanjeev; Grotzinger, J. P.; Bridges, J. C.; Clark, B. C.; Rampe, E. B.; Gasnault, O.; Maurice, S.; Gasda, P. J.; Lanza, N. L.; Olilla, A. M.; Meslin, P. Y.; Payré, V.; Calef, F.; Salvatore, Mark; House, C. H.
In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol. 125, No. 9, e2019JE006320, 2020, p. 1-21.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and Role of Diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as Observed by the ChemCam Instrument
AU - Frydenvang, J.
AU - Mangold, N.
AU - Wiens, R. C.
AU - Fraeman, A. A.
AU - Edgar, L. A.
AU - Fedo, C. M.
AU - L'Haridon, J.
AU - Bedford, C. C.
AU - Gupta, Sanjeev
AU - Grotzinger, J. P.
AU - Bridges, J. C.
AU - Clark, B. C.
AU - Rampe, E. B.
AU - Gasnault, O.
AU - Maurice, S.
AU - Gasda, P. J.
AU - Lanza, N. L.
AU - Olilla, A. M.
AU - Meslin, P. Y.
AU - Payré, V.
AU - Calef, F.
AU - Salvatore, Mark
AU - House, C. H.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Geochemical results are presented from Curiosity's exploration of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), in addition to the full chemostratigraphy of the predominantly lacustrine mudstone Murray formation up to and including VRR. VRR is a prominent ridge flanking Aeolis Mons (informally Mt. Sharp), the central mound in Gale crater, Mars, and was a key area of interest for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. ChemCam data show that VRR is overall geochemically similar to lower-lying members of the Murray formation, even though the top of VRR shows a strong hematite spectral signature as observed from orbit. Although overall geochemically similar, VRR is characterized by a prominent decrease in Li abundance and Chemical Index of Alteration across the ridge. This decrease follows the morphology of the ridge rather than elevation and is inferred to reflect a nondepositionally controlled decrease in clay mineral abundance in VRR rocks. Additionally, a notable enrichment in Mn above baseline levels is observed on VRR. While not supporting a single model, the results suggest that VRR rocks were likely affected by multiple episodes of postdepositional groundwater interactions that made them more erosionally resistant than surrounding Murray rocks, thus resulting in the modern-day ridge after subsequent erosion.
AB - Geochemical results are presented from Curiosity's exploration of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), in addition to the full chemostratigraphy of the predominantly lacustrine mudstone Murray formation up to and including VRR. VRR is a prominent ridge flanking Aeolis Mons (informally Mt. Sharp), the central mound in Gale crater, Mars, and was a key area of interest for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. ChemCam data show that VRR is overall geochemically similar to lower-lying members of the Murray formation, even though the top of VRR shows a strong hematite spectral signature as observed from orbit. Although overall geochemically similar, VRR is characterized by a prominent decrease in Li abundance and Chemical Index of Alteration across the ridge. This decrease follows the morphology of the ridge rather than elevation and is inferred to reflect a nondepositionally controlled decrease in clay mineral abundance in VRR rocks. Additionally, a notable enrichment in Mn above baseline levels is observed on VRR. While not supporting a single model, the results suggest that VRR rocks were likely affected by multiple episodes of postdepositional groundwater interactions that made them more erosionally resistant than surrounding Murray rocks, thus resulting in the modern-day ridge after subsequent erosion.
KW - ChemCam
KW - chemostratigraphy
KW - Gale crater
KW - Mars
KW - Mars Science Laboratory
KW - Vera Rubin ridge
U2 - 10.1029/2019JE006320
DO - 10.1029/2019JE006320
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85089842040
VL - 125
SP - 1
EP - 21
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
SN - 0148-0227
IS - 9
M1 - e2019JE006320
ER -
ID: 249475465