2015
DOI: 10.1002/2014gl062553
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Mineralogy and fluvial history of the watersheds of Gale, Knobel, and Sharp craters: A regional context for the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity's exploration

Abstract: A 500 km long network of valleys extends from Herschel crater to Gale, Knobel, and Sharp craters.The mineralogy and timing of fluvial activity in these watersheds provide a regional framework for deciphering the origin of sediments of Gale crater's Mount Sharp, an exploration target for the Curiosity rover. Olivine-bearing bedrock is exposed throughout the region, and its erosion contributed to widespread olivine-bearing sand dunes. Fe/Mg phyllosilicates are found in both bedrock and sediments, implying that m… Show more

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Cited by 65 publications
(72 citation statements)
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“…These spectra are also distinct from the stratigraphic layer containing nontronite in Mount Sharp identified by Milliken et al . [], as previously reported for a few select locales [ Ehlmann and Buz , ]. The Mount Sharp spectra are most similar to Al‐substituted nontronite due to the absorption shoulder at ~2.24 μm, an Al,Fe‐OH vibration [ Milliken et al ., ].…”
Section: Resultssupporting
confidence: 70%
“…These spectra are also distinct from the stratigraphic layer containing nontronite in Mount Sharp identified by Milliken et al . [], as previously reported for a few select locales [ Ehlmann and Buz , ]. The Mount Sharp spectra are most similar to Al‐substituted nontronite due to the absorption shoulder at ~2.24 μm, an Al,Fe‐OH vibration [ Milliken et al ., ].…”
Section: Resultssupporting
confidence: 70%
“…However, the stratigraphic relationships between Yellowknife Bay sediments and other units are not entirely certain, and the deposit might instead represent a late‐stage unit from Peace Vallis alluvial activity emplaced atop materials left behind during Mount Sharp's retreat [ Grotzinger et al , ]. There are smectite clays in the Gale Crater watershed which could have been delivered to the vicinity [ Ehlmann and Buz , ]. Continued analysis of orbital and in situ data to understand contact relationships and the timing of sedimentation and clay formation is crucial.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Smectite clays, a type of phyllosilicate formed during the reaction of water with silicates, have been detected from orbit in Mount Sharp units [ Milliken et al , ], regionally within the watershed of Gale Crater [ Ehlmann and Buz , ], as well as found in situ by the Curiosity rover Chemistry & Mineralogy (CheMin) X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) instrument at multiple traverse locations [ Vaniman et al , ]. Smectites should be a key tracer of diagnetic history because at elevated temperatures they are no longer a thermodynamically stable phase and instead convert to other phyllosilicate phases like illite or chlorite that lack interlayer water via a series of intermediate reactions to form mixed layer clays like illite‐smectite or chlorite‐smectite [e.g.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Many of these southern highland craters exhibit evidence for open-and closed-basin lakes (Figure 1a) [Cabrol and Grin, 1999;Fassett and Head, 2008] including Sharp crater to the west of Gale, found to have fan deposits and a similar mineralogy as Gale crater [Ehlmann and Buz, 2015]. Many of these southern highland craters exhibit evidence for open-and closed-basin lakes (Figure 1a) [Cabrol and Grin, 1999;Fassett and Head, 2008] including Sharp crater to the west of Gale, found to have fan deposits and a similar mineralogy as Gale crater [Ehlmann and Buz, 2015].…”
Section: 1002/2017gl074654mentioning
confidence: 99%