Chemistry of diagenetic features analyzed by ChemCam at Pahrump Hills, Gale Crater, Mars

Marion Nachon; Nicolas Mangold; Olivier Forni; L. C. Kah; A. Cousin; R. C. Wiens; R. Anderson; D. Blaney; J. G. Blank; F. Calef; Samuel M. Clegg; C. Fabre; Martin R. Fisk; O. Gasnault; John P. Grotzinger; R. Kronyak; Nina L. Lanza; Jeremie Lasue; L. Le Deit; Stephane Le Mouelic; Sylvestre Maurice; P. Y. Meslin; D. Z. Oehler; V. Payre; W. Rapin; S. Schroeder; K. Stack; D. Sumner

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.08.026

Back

Chemistry of diagenetic features analyzed by ChemCam at Pahrump Hills, Gale Crater, Mars

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Chemistry of diagenetic features analyzed by ChemCam at Pahrump Hills, Gale Crater, Mars

Marion Nachon, Nicolas Mangold, Olivier Forni, L. C. Kah, A. Cousin, R. C. Wiens, R. Anderson, D. Blaney, J. G. Blank, F. Calef, …

Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962), Vol.281(C), pp.121-136

01/01/2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2016.08.026

Files and links (1)

url

https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1412864View

Open Access

Abstract

The Curiosity rover's campaign at Pahrump Hills provides the first analyses of lower Mount Sharp strata. Here we report ChemCam elemental composition of a diverse assemblage of post-depositional features embedded in, or cross-cutting, the host rock. ChemCam results demonstrate their compositional diversity, especially compared to the surrounding host rock: (i) Dendritic aggregates and relief enhanced features, characterized by a magnesium enhancement and sulfur detection, and interpreted as Mg-sulfates; (ii) A localized observation that displays iron enrichment associated with sulfur, interpreted as Fe-sulfate; (iii) Dark raised ridges with varying Mg- and Ca-enriched compositions compared to host rock; (iv) Several dark-toned veins with calcium enhancement associated with fluorine detection, interpreted as fluorite veins. (v) Light-toned veins with enhanced calcium associated with sulfur detection, and interpreted as Ca-sulfates. The diversity of the Pahrump Hills diagenetic assemblage suggests a complex post-depositional history for fine-grained sediments for which the origin has been interpreted as fluvial and lacustrine. Assessment of the spatial and relative temporal distribution of these features shows that the Mg-sulfate features are predominant in the lower part of the section, suggesting local modification of the sediments by early diagenetic fluids. In contrast, light-toned Ca-sulfate veins occur in the whole section and cross-cut all other features. A relatively late stage shift in geochemical conditions could explain this observation. The Pahrump Hills diagenetic features have no equivalent compared to targets analyzed in other locations at Gale crater. Only the light-toned Ca-sulfate veins are present elsewhere, along Curiosity's path, suggesting they formed through a common late-stage process that occurred at over a broad area.

Fluorides

Iron

alkaline earth metals

aqueous alteration

calcium

calcium sulfate

ChemCam

chemical composition

Curiosity Rover

diagenesis

Extraterrestrial geology

fluorite

Gale Crater

halides

iron sulfates

magnesium

magnesium sulfates

Mars

Mars Science Laboratory

metals

Mount Sharp

Pahrump Hills

planets

spatial distribution

sulfates

sulfur

temporal distribution

terrestrial planets

textures

veins

Details

Title: Subtitle: Chemistry of diagenetic features analyzed by ChemCam at Pahrump Hills, Gale Crater, Mars
Creators: Marion Nachon - Nantes Université
Nicolas Mangold - Nantes Université
Olivier Forni - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, UPS-OMP, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
L. C. Kah - University of Tennessee at Knoxville
A. Cousin - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, UPS-OMP, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
R. C. Wiens - Los Alamos National Laboratory
R. Anderson - Astrogeology Science Center
D. Blaney - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
J. G. Blank - Ames Research Center
F. Calef - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Samuel M. Clegg - Los Alamos National Laboratory
C. Fabre - Université de Lorraine
Martin R. Fisk - Oregon State University
O. Gasnault - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, UPS-OMP, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
John P. Grotzinger - California Institute of Technology
R. Kronyak - University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Nina L. Lanza - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Jeremie Lasue - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, UPS-OMP, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
L. Le Deit - Nantes Université
Stephane Le Mouelic - Nantes Université
Sylvestre Maurice - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, UPS-OMP, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
P. Y. Meslin - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, UPS-OMP, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
D. Z. Oehler - Johnson Space Center
V. Payre - Université de Lorraine
W. Rapin - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, UPS-OMP, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
S. Schroeder
K. Stack - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
D. Sumner - University of California, Davis
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962), Vol.281(C), pp.121-136
DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2016.08.026
ISSN: 0019-1035
eISSN: 1090-2643
Publisher: Elsevier
Language: English
Date published: 01/01/2017
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984294925702771

Metrics

19 Record Views

105 Times Cited - Web of Science