Conference proceeding
Curiosity at Gale Crater's hematite ridge; high Mn and P near the ridge show chemical evidence for generation by an oxidation front
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Vol.2017
American Geophysical Union 2017 fall meeting
12/2017
Abstract
After traversing >17 km, the Curiosity rover has reached Vera Rubin Ridge (VRR), formerly known as the Hematite Ridge. Situated nearly equal 200 m above the base of Gale crater on the slope of Mt. Sharp, VRR was one of the original objectives of the mission. VRR stretches nearly equal 6.5 km NE-SW with a vertical height of nearly equal 30 m (to -4200 m), it is the largest surface feature encountered by Curiosity to date. Orbital observation by CRISM of relatively strong hematite signal along the ridge gave it its original name. Some hematite spectral signatures along the ridge have been observed by Curiosity from long distance by Mastcam and ChemCam passive spectra. Curiosity started observing local enrichments of hematite in Murray lacustrine sediments near Bagnold Dunes, which may or may not be related to the hematite observed on the ridge top. The presence of hematite-like spectral signatures became variable as the rover approached below the ridge. Chemistry and ridge imaging: Magnesium, Mn, and P have shown strong increases in dark surface features in some regions below the ridge. Manganese oxide abundances have risen to >10 wt. % in some dark nodules and laminae. Iron, Mg, and P appear correlated in high-P observations, with the highest values associated with vein-related inclusions. Another class of dark features shows high Fe without high Mn or P. ChemCam high-resolution imaging from within nearly equal 100 m of the base of the ridge shows regions of both finely laminated parallel strata and low-angle cross stratification along with vertical fractures surrounded by alteration halos; these are comparable to Murray stratigraphy. Given that the exposed surface of the Murray formation is the result of significant erosional deflation, the ridge must be more erosionally resistant than the surrounding material. The observation of high-oxidation-potential element enrichments below VRR argues for an oxidation front in which the local sediments were enriched in oxidized iron (hematite) and manganese. In this presentation we will report on the latest geochemical trends leading up to and on VRR, comparing chemical and morphological observations to observed mineralogy.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Curiosity at Gale Crater's hematite ridge; high Mn and P near the ridge show chemical evidence for generation by an oxidation front
- Creators
- R. C. Wiens - Space Science and Applications Los Alamos, NM USA United StatesP. Y. MeslinNina L. LanzaJens FrydenvangNicolas MangoldJeffrey R. JohnsonAbigail A. FraemanBriony H. N. HorganCandice BedfordDiana L. BlaneyJ. BridgesA. CousinB. L. EhlmannOlivier ForniP. J. GasdaOlivier GasnaultR. GellertS. JohnstoneS. N. LammJeremie LasueStephane Le MouelicSylvestre MauriceH. E. NewsomAnn M. OllilaValerie PayreWilliam RapinM. R. SalvatoreSusanne P. SchwenzerN. H. ThomasAshwin R. Vasavada
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Publication Details
- American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Vol.2017
- Conference
- American Geophysical Union 2017 fall meeting
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union
- Alternative title
- AGU 2017 fall meeting
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2017
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984318246202771
Metrics
1 Record Views