Gale crater and impact processes – Curiosity’s first 364 Sols on Mars

Newsom, H. E.; Mangold, N.; Kah, L. C.; Williams, Joshua; Arvidson, R. E.; Stein, N.; Ollila, A.; Bridges, J. C.; Schwenzer, S. P.; King, P. L.; Grant, J. A.; Pinet, P.; Bridges, N. T.; Calef, F.; Wiens, R. C.; Spray, John G.; Vaniman, D. T.; Elston, Wolf E.; Berger, J. A.; Garvin, J. B.; Palucis, M. C.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.10.013

Cited by 38 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 108 publications

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“…; Newsom et al. ). The magnitude of deceleration and ablation experienced by meteors traversing the atmosphere will depend on the initial velocity and mass of the objects (e.g., Baldwin and Schaeffer ; Bronshten ; Melosh ; Ip ; Chyba et al.…”

Section: Atmospheric Filteringmentioning

confidence: 97%

Dating very young planetary surfaces from crater statistics: A review of issues and challenges

Williams

Bogert

Pathare

et al. 2017

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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Abstract-Determining the ages of young planetary surfaces relies on using populations of small, often sub-km diameter impact craters due to the higher frequency at which they form. Smaller craters however can be less reliable for estimating ages as their sizefrequency distribution is more susceptible to alteration with debate as to whether they should be used at all. With the current plethora of meter-scale resolution images acquired of the lunar and Martian surfaces, small craters have been widely used to derive model ages to establish the temporal relation of recent geologic events. In this review paper, we discuss the many factors that make smaller craters particularly challenging to use and should be taken into consideration when crater counts are confined to small crater diameters. Establishing confidence in a model age ultimately requires an understanding of the geologic context of the surface being dated as reliability can vary considerably and limitations of the dating technique should be considered in applying ages to any geologic interpretation.

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Section: Atmospheric Filteringmentioning

confidence: 97%

Dating very young planetary surfaces from crater statistics: A review of issues and challenges

Williams

Bogert

Pathare

et al. 2017

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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“…; Newsom et al. ). Complete (360 degree) cones are rare, and from some structures only rare cone segments have been described.…”

Section: Shatter Cone Definitionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The current state of knowledge about shatter cones: Introduction to the special issue

Baratoux

Reimold

2016

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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Shatter cones are a fracture phenomenon that is exclusively associated with shock metamorphism and has also been produced in the laboratory in several shock experiments. The occurrence of shatter cones is the only accepted meso‐ to macroscopic recognition criterion for impact structures. Shatter cones exhibit a number of geometric characteristics (orientation, apical angles, striation angles, sizes) that can be best described as varied, from case to case. Possible links between geometric properties with impact or crater parameters have remained controversial and the lack of understanding of the mechanism of formation of shatter cones does not offer a physical framework to discuss or understand them. A database of shatter cone occurrences has been produced for this introduction paper to the special issue of Meteoritics and Planetary Science on shatter cones. Distribution of shatter cones with respect to crater size and lithology suggests that shatter cones do not occur in impact craters less than a few kilometers in diameter, with a few, currently questionable exceptions. All pertinent hypotheses of formation are presented and discussed. Several may be discarded in light of the most recent observations. The branching fracture mechanism and the interference models proposed, respectively, by Sagy et al. (2002) and Baratoux and Melosh (2003) require further evaluation. New observations, experiments, or theoretical considerations presented in this special issue promise an important step forward, based on a renewed effort to resolve the enigmatic origin of these important features.

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“…In total, it is 82 km long, has an average slope of 6% (Figure ), and varies in width from 500 m to 3 km. The upper portion of the canyon is incised 26 km back from the crater rim into Gale crater ejecta [see Newsom et al ., , Figure 1] and terminates in an amphitheater‐shaped headwall. There are just two, short, stubby tributary valleys.…”

Section: Observations: Delta Fan and Channel Deposits Within Gale Crmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sequence and relative timing of large lakes in Gale crater (Mars) after the formation of Mount Sharp

et al. 2016

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The quantification of lake levels in Gale crater is important to define the hydrologic and climatic history experienced by the sedimentary deposits found by Curiosity. We propose that there were at least three major lake stands within Gale, each persisted >1000 years, and all occurred after Mount Sharp reached close to its current topographic form. Deltaic deposits off the southern rim of Gale, derived from incision of Farah Vallis, and corresponding deposits off the southern flank of Mount Sharp define the highest lake level, which had a mean depth of 700 m. Canyons similar in form to Farah Vallis enter into craters and/or the crustal dichotomy near Gale from the south, suggesting that the highest lake was supplied by a large‐scale flow system. The next lake level, established after a period of drying and rewetting, is defined by four deltaic features, three sourced from Mount Sharp and one from the western rim of Gale, as well as the termination of gullies around the northern rim of Gale. This second lake level had a mean depth of 300 m. The presence of the gullies suggests more locally sourced water. Lake levels then rose another 100 m, as evidenced by two deltaic deposits derived from the rim of Gale and the termination of a second set of gullies. Post‐lake, reduced hydrologic activity continued, evidenced by a time of fan building (including Peace Vallis). The sequence of events suggests an episodic shift through time from relatively wet regional conditions to a drier environment with local runoff.

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Gale crater and impact processes – Curiosity’s first 364 Sols on Mars

Cited by 38 publications

References 108 publications

Dating very young planetary surfaces from crater statistics: A review of issues and challenges

Dating very young planetary surfaces from crater statistics: A review of issues and challenges

The current state of knowledge about shatter cones: Introduction to the special issue

Sequence and relative timing of large lakes in Gale crater (Mars) after the formation of Mount Sharp

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