The chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and role of diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as observed by the ChemCam instrument

Jens Frydenvang; Nicolas Mangold; Roger C. Wiens; Abigail A. Fraeman; Lauren A. Edgar; Christopher M. Fedo; J. L'Haridon; Candice C. Bedford; S. Gupta; J. P. Grotzinger; John C. Bridges; Benton C. Clark; Elizabeth B. Rampe; Olivier Gasnault; S. Maurice; Patrick J. Gasda; Nina L. Lanza; A. M. Olilla; Pierre-Yves Meslin; Valerie Payre; Fred Calef; Mark Salvatore; Christopher H. House

doi:10.1029/2019JE006320

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The chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and role of diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as observed by the ChemCam instrument

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The chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and role of diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as observed by the ChemCam instrument

Jens Frydenvang, Nicolas Mangold, Roger C. Wiens, Abigail A. Fraeman, Lauren A. Edgar, Christopher M. Fedo, J. L'Haridon, Candice C. Bedford, S. Gupta, J. P. Grotzinger, …

Journal of geophysical research. Planets, Vol.125(9), e2019JE006320

09/2020

DOI: 10.1029/2019JE006320

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Abstract

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. Abstract Copyright (2020). American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Aeolis Mons

alteration

ChemCam

chemostratigraphy

clay minerals

Curiosity Rover

depositional environment

erosion

Extraterrestrial geology

Gale Crater

ground water

lacustrine environment

Mars

Mars Science Laboratory

Murray Formation

planets

sediments

sheet silicates

silicates

terrestrial planets

Vera Rubin Ridge

water-rock interaction

Details

Title: Subtitle: The chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and role of diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as observed by the ChemCam instrument
Creators: Jens Frydenvang - University of Copenhagen
Nicolas Mangold - Nantes Université
Roger C. Wiens - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Abigail A. Fraeman - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Lauren A. Edgar - United States Geological Survey
Christopher M. Fedo - University of Tennessee at Knoxville
J. L'Haridon - Nantes Université
Candice C. Bedford - Universities Space Research Association
S. Gupta - Imperial College London
J. P. Grotzinger - California Institute of Technology
John C. Bridges - University of Leicester
Benton C. Clark - Space Science Institute
Elizabeth B. Rampe - Johnson Space Center
Olivier Gasnault - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS Toulouse France
S. Maurice - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS Toulouse France
Patrick J. Gasda - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Nina L. Lanza - Los Alamos National Laboratory
A. M. Olilla - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Pierre-Yves Meslin - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS Toulouse France
Valerie Payre - Rice University
Fred Calef - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mark Salvatore - Northern Arizona University
Christopher H. House - Pennsylvania State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Planets, Vol.125(9), e2019JE006320
DOI: 10.1029/2019JE006320
ISSN: 2169-9097
eISSN: 2169-9100
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell for American Geophysical Union
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/501100002808, name: Carlsbergfondet, award: CF19‐0005
Language: English
Date published: 09/2020
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984295027202771

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