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Alternating wet and dry depositional environments recorded in the stratigraphy of Mount Sharp at Gale crater, Mars

Rapin, W. and Dromart, G. and Rubin, D. and Le Deit, L. and Mangold, N. and Edgar, L. A. and Gasnault, O. and Herkenhoff, K. and Le Mouélic, S. and Anderson, R. B. and Maurice, S. and Fox, V. and Ehlmann, B. L. and Dickson, J. L. and Wiens, R. C. (2021) Alternating wet and dry depositional environments recorded in the stratigraphy of Mount Sharp at Gale crater, Mars. Geology, 49 (7). pp. 842-846. ISSN 0091-7613. doi:10.1130/G48519.1. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20210412-083509911

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Abstract

The Curiosity rover is exploring Hesperian-aged stratigraphy in Gale crater, Mars, where a transition from clay-bearing units to a layered sulfate-bearing unit has been interpreted to represent a major environmental transition of unknown character. We present the first description of key facies in the sulfate-bearing unit, recently observed in the distance by the rover, and propose a model for changes in depositional environments. Our results indicate a transition from lacustrine mudstones into thick aeolian deposits, topped by a major deflation surface, above which strata show architectures likely diagnostic of a subaqueous environment. This model offers a reference example of a depositional sequence for layered sulfate-bearing strata, which have been identified from orbit in other locations globally. It differs from the idea of a monotonic Hesperian climate change into long-term aridity on Mars and instead implies a period characterized by multiple transitions between sustained drier and wetter climates.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.1130/g48519.1DOIArticle
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Rapin, W.0000-0003-4660-8006
Rubin, D.0000-0003-1169-1452
Le Deit, L.0000-0003-1361-5170
Mangold, N.0000-0002-0022-0631
Edgar, L. A.0000-0001-7512-7813
Gasnault, O.0000-0002-6979-9012
Herkenhoff, K.0000-0002-3153-6663
Le Mouélic, S.0000-0001-5260-1367
Anderson, R. B.0000-0003-4465-2871
Maurice, S.0000-0001-5702-8002
Fox, V.0000-0002-0972-1192
Ehlmann, B. L.0000-0002-2745-3240
Wiens, R. C.0000-0002-3409-7344
Additional Information:© 2021 The Authors. Gold Open Access: This paper is published under the terms of the CC-BY license. Manuscript received 19 October 2020; Revised manuscript received 18 January 2021; Manuscript accepted 21 January 2021. Rapin and Ehlmann were supported by a NASA Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Participating Scientist grant to Ehlmann. The work of Dromart was supported by Centre National d’Etudes Spatiale (CNES) through the ChemCam Program. Data used are available in the NASA Planetary Data System (https://pds.nasa.gov/). The MSL project is supported by the NASA Mars Exploration Program and CNES. We thank K.M. Stack, M. Pondrelli, A. Owen, and one anonymous reviewer for help in improving this manuscript.
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NASAUNSPECIFIED
Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES)UNSPECIFIED
Issue or Number:7
DOI:10.1130/G48519.1
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20210412-083509911
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20210412-083509911
Official Citation:W. Rapin, G. Dromart, D. Rubin, L. Le Deit, N. Mangold, L.A. Edgar, O. Gasnault, K. Herkenhoff, S. Le Mouélic, R.B. Anderson, S. Maurice, V. Fox, B.L. Ehlmann, J.L. Dickson, R.C. Wiens; Alternating wet and dry depositional environments recorded in the stratigraphy of Mount Sharp at Gale crater, Mars. Geology 2021; 49 (7): 842–846. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G48519.1
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:108689
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Tony Diaz
Deposited On:13 Apr 2021 20:33
Last Modified:06 Jul 2021 20:20

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