Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars
The Curiosity rover has analyzed abundant light-toned fracture-fill material within the Yellowknife Bay sedimentary deposits. The ChemCam instrument, coupled with Mastcam and ChemCam/Remote Micro Imager images, was able to demonstrate that these fracture fills consist of calcium sulfate veins, many...
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ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:53040 2023-05-15T18:45:40+02:00 Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars Nachon, M. Ehlmann, B. Grotzinger, J. Rice, M. Stack, K. 2014-09 application/pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/53040/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/53040/1/jgre20285.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141219-111809382 en eng American Geophysical Union https://authors.library.caltech.edu/53040/1/jgre20285.pdf Nachon, M. and Ehlmann, B. and Grotzinger, J. and Rice, M. and Stack, K. (2014) Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 119 (9). pp. 1991-2016. ISSN 2169-9097. doi:10.1002/2013JE004588. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141219-111809382 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141219-111809382> other Article PeerReviewed 2014 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JE004588 2021-11-11T19:01:47Z The Curiosity rover has analyzed abundant light-toned fracture-fill material within the Yellowknife Bay sedimentary deposits. The ChemCam instrument, coupled with Mastcam and ChemCam/Remote Micro Imager images, was able to demonstrate that these fracture fills consist of calcium sulfate veins, many of which appear to be hydrated at a level expected for gypsum and bassanite. Anhydrite is locally present and is found in a location characterized by a nodular texture. An intricate assemblage of veins crosses the sediments, which were likely formed by precipitation from fluids circulating through fractures. The presence of veins throughout the entire ~5 m thick Yellowknife Bay sediments suggests that this process occurred well after sedimentation and cementation/lithification of those sediments. The sulfur-rich fluids may have originated in previously precipitated sulfate-rich layers, either before the deposition of the Sheepbed mudstones or from unrelated units such as the sulfates at the base of Mount Sharp. The occurrence of these veins after the episodes of deposition of fluvial sediments at the surface suggests persistent aqueous activity in relatively nonacidic conditions. Article in Journal/Newspaper Yellowknife Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay ENVELOPE(-114.336,-114.336,62.367,62.367) Mount Sharp ENVELOPE(-58.079,-58.079,-63.855,-63.855) Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 119 9 1991 2016 |
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Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) |
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English |
description |
The Curiosity rover has analyzed abundant light-toned fracture-fill material within the Yellowknife Bay sedimentary deposits. The ChemCam instrument, coupled with Mastcam and ChemCam/Remote Micro Imager images, was able to demonstrate that these fracture fills consist of calcium sulfate veins, many of which appear to be hydrated at a level expected for gypsum and bassanite. Anhydrite is locally present and is found in a location characterized by a nodular texture. An intricate assemblage of veins crosses the sediments, which were likely formed by precipitation from fluids circulating through fractures. The presence of veins throughout the entire ~5 m thick Yellowknife Bay sediments suggests that this process occurred well after sedimentation and cementation/lithification of those sediments. The sulfur-rich fluids may have originated in previously precipitated sulfate-rich layers, either before the deposition of the Sheepbed mudstones or from unrelated units such as the sulfates at the base of Mount Sharp. The occurrence of these veins after the episodes of deposition of fluvial sediments at the surface suggests persistent aqueous activity in relatively nonacidic conditions. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nachon, M. Ehlmann, B. Grotzinger, J. Rice, M. Stack, K. |
spellingShingle |
Nachon, M. Ehlmann, B. Grotzinger, J. Rice, M. Stack, K. Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars |
author_facet |
Nachon, M. Ehlmann, B. Grotzinger, J. Rice, M. Stack, K. |
author_sort |
Nachon, M. |
title |
Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars |
title_short |
Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars |
title_full |
Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars |
title_fullStr |
Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars |
title_full_unstemmed |
Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars |
title_sort |
calcium sulfate veins characterized by chemcam/curiosity at gale crater, mars |
publisher |
American Geophysical Union |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/53040/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/53040/1/jgre20285.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141219-111809382 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-114.336,-114.336,62.367,62.367) ENVELOPE(-58.079,-58.079,-63.855,-63.855) |
geographic |
Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay Mount Sharp |
geographic_facet |
Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay Mount Sharp |
genre |
Yellowknife |
genre_facet |
Yellowknife |
op_relation |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/53040/1/jgre20285.pdf Nachon, M. and Ehlmann, B. and Grotzinger, J. and Rice, M. and Stack, K. (2014) Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 119 (9). pp. 1991-2016. ISSN 2169-9097. doi:10.1002/2013JE004588. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141219-111809382 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141219-111809382> |
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other |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JE004588 |
container_title |
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |
container_volume |
119 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
1991 |
op_container_end_page |
2016 |
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1766236791473438720 |