Geologic map of Meridiani Planum, Mars

Hynek, B. M.; Achille, G. Di

doi:10.3133/sim3356

Cited by 29 publications

(113 citation statements)

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“…The ELDs rest nonconformably on top of the mNh or lNh/eHh units both in Kotido crater and in the nearby intercrater plains (Figure ; Pondrelli et al, ) and correspond to the undivided etched unit (HNMe u ) by Hynek and Di Achille (). They consist of light‐toned deposits, dark‐toned deposits, and interspersed mounds of intermediate tone, although there are differences in the geometry, texture, associated morphologies, and observable sedimentary structures between those in the crater and those on the plateau (Table and Figure ).…”

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 96%

“…It consists of massive medium‐toned material with sharp ridges suggestive of a competent lithology. This unit corresponds to the s ubdued cratered unit (Nhc 2 ) and moderately eroded crater unit (c 2 ) mapped by Hynek and Di Achille (). The c 2 unit (Hynek & Di Achille, ) corresponds to the Kotido crater rim.…”

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This unit corresponds to the s ubdued cratered unit (Nhc 2 ) and moderately eroded crater unit (c 2 ) mapped by Hynek and Di Achille (). The c 2 unit (Hynek & Di Achille, ) corresponds to the Kotido crater rim. According to Tanaka et al (), and Hynek and Di Achille (), it represents an undifferentiated mixture of impact, volcanic, fluvial, and basin materials.…”

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The c 2 unit (Hynek & Di Achille, ) corresponds to the Kotido crater rim. According to Tanaka et al (), and Hynek and Di Achille (), it represents an undifferentiated mixture of impact, volcanic, fluvial, and basin materials.…”

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the northeastern part of the study area mNh is covered by the ejecta from a roughly 10‐km large crater that impacted the Kotido crater rim. We tentatively assign the ejecta from this crater, which corresponds to the c 2 unit according to the geological map of Hynek and Di Achille (), either to the Late Noachian or to the Early Hesperian highland unit (lNh/eHh; Tanaka et al, ). This units display similar characteristics to mNh but form plains.…”

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Groundwater Control and Process Variability on the Equatorial Layered Deposits of Kotido Crater, Mars

et al. 2019

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Understanding the origin of the Hesperian‐aged sulfate‐bearing Equatorial Layered Deposits (ELDs) is crucial to infer Mars' climatic conditions during their formation and to assess their habitability potential. We investigated well‐exposed ELDs in Kotido crater (Arabia Terra) and produced a detailed geological map of the crater infill, distinguishing different units within the ELDs based upon their morphological and sedimentological characteristics. The ELDs consist of interbedded light‐toned, darker‐toned deposits and mounds, associated with possible fissure ridges. Although heavily eroded by younger eolian processes, we interpret these deposits and their associated morphologies as remnants of depositional features and propose that they are the result of fluid, gas, and sediment expulsion processes sourced from the groundwater. The textural characteristics, their depositional geometry, the associated morphologies, and the inferred composition of the light‐toned deposits suggest an evaporitic origin, whereas the darker‐toned deposits might reflect clastic sedimentary processes, related or not to fluid expulsion and/or residual deposition following dissolution of the evaporites. The relative ratio of fluids, salts, and clasts controlled the depositional process, analogous to what happens in terrestrial playas. The controls on fluid expulsion is interpreted to depend on groundwater emplacement and fluctuations, possibly related to climatic changes, and to the interactions with the fractures related to the crater formation, which allowed the actual upwelling from a pressurized aquifer.

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Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geology Of Kotido Cratermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Groundwater Control and Process Variability on the Equatorial Layered Deposits of Kotido Crater, Mars

et al. 2019

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Multiple surface wetting events in the greater Meridiani Planum region, Mars: Evidence from valley networks within ancient cratered highlands

Williams

Chuang

Berman

2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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Morphological characterization of valley networks in three exposures of ancient cratered highlands (Nhc1) in the greater Meridiani Planum region yields insight into the Martian aqueous history. From our mapping, key regional differences are apparent in fine‐scale valley network attributes including morphologic type, planimetric form, density, and links to candidate paleolakes. This information, combined with crater retention age (inferred exposure age), provides new details on the relative timing and nature of aqueous processes in the region. Newly identified pitted‐type valley networks have morphological similarity to terrestrial pitted landforms in an evaporite setting. We interpret the pitted valley networks to reflect late‐stage groundwater processes concentrated along the former fluvial conduits. Evidence from this study indicates that localized reactivation of valley networks occurred during or after exhumation of eastern Nhc1 unit.

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Radar sounder evidence of thick, porous sediments in Meridiani Planum and implications for ice‐filled deposits on Mars

Watters

Leuschen

Campbell

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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Meridiani Planum is one of the most intensely studied regions on Mars, yet little is known about the physical properties of the deposits below those examined by the Opportunity rover. We report the detection of subsurface echoes within the Meridiani Planum deposits from data obtained by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) instrument. The delay time between the surface and subsurface returns is indicative of materials with a real dielectric constant of 3.6 ± 0.6. The real dielectric constant is strongly modulated by bulk density. Newly derived compaction relationships for Mars indicate that the relatively low dielectric constant of the Meridiani Planum deposits is consistent with a thick layer of ice‐free, porous, basaltic sand. The unique physiographic and hydrologic setting of Meridiani Planum may have provided an ideal sediment trap for eolian sands. The relatively low gravity and the cold, dry climate that has dominated Mars for billions of years may have allowed thick eolian sand deposits to remain porous and only weakly indurated. Minimally compacted sedimentary deposits may offer a possible explanation for other nonpolar region units with low apparent bulk dielectric constants.

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Geologic map of Meridiani Planum, Mars

Cited by 29 publications

References 28 publications

Groundwater Control and Process Variability on the Equatorial Layered Deposits of Kotido Crater, Mars

Groundwater Control and Process Variability on the Equatorial Layered Deposits of Kotido Crater, Mars

Multiple surface wetting events in the greater Meridiani Planum region, Mars: Evidence from valley networks within ancient cratered highlands

Radar sounder evidence of thick, porous sediments in Meridiani Planum and implications for ice‐filled deposits on Mars

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