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How much of the sediment in Gale crater's central mound was fluvially transported?

ABSTRACT: The origin of the sedimentary mound within Gale crater, the landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity, remains enigmatic. Here we examine the total potential contribution of fluvial material by conducting a volume-based analysis. On the basis of these results, the mound can be divided into three zones: a lower, intermediate, and upper zone. The top boundary of the lowermost zone is defined by maximal contribution of water-lain sediments, which are ~13 to 20% of the total mound volume. The upper zone is defined by the elevation of the unbreached rim to the north (-2.46 km); sediments above this elevation cannot have been emplaced by flowing water. These volume balance calculations indicate that mechanisms other than flowing water are required to account for the overwhelming majority of the sediments transported into Gale crater. The most likely candidate process is settling from eolian suspension.

SUBMITTER: Thomson BJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6662218 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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How much of the sediment in Gale crater's central mound was fluvially transported?

Thomson Bradley J BJ Buczkowski Debra L DL Crumpler Larry S LS Seelos Kimberly D KD Fassett Caleb I CI

Geophysical research letters 20190429 10

The origin of the sedimentary mound within Gale crater, the landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory rover <i>Curiosity</i>, remains enigmatic. Here we examine the total potential contribution of fluvial material by conducting a volume-based analysis. On the basis of these results, the mound can be divided into three zones: a lower, intermediate, and upper zone. The top boundary of the lowermost zone is defined by maximal contribution of water-lain sediments, which are ~13 to 20% of the tota ...[more]

PMID: 31359893

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