Premium
The rock abrasion record at Gale Crater: Mars Science Laboratory results from Bradbury Landing to Rocknest
Author(s) -
Bridges N. T.,
Calef F. J.,
Hallet B.,
Herkenhoff K. E.,
Lanza N. L.,
Le Mouélic S.,
Newman C. E.,
Blaney D. L.,
Pablo M. A.,
Kocurek G. A.,
Langevin Y.,
Lewis K. W.,
Mangold N.,
Maurice S.,
Meslin P.Y.,
Pinet P.,
Renno N. O.,
Rice M. S.,
Richardson M. E.,
Sautter V.,
Sletten R. S.,
Wiens R. C.,
Yingst R. A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1002/2013je004579
Subject(s) - geology , impact crater , mars exploration program , lineation , abrasion (mechanical) , outcrop , astrobiology , aeolian processes , paleontology , physics , mechanical engineering , engineering , tectonics
Ventifacts, rocks abraded by wind‐borne particles, are found in Gale Crater, Mars. In the eastward drive from “Bradbury Landing” to “Rocknest,” they account for about half of the float and outcrop seen by Curiosity's cameras. Many are faceted and exhibit abrasion textures found at a range of scales, from submillimeter lineations to centimeter‐scale facets, scallops, flutes, and grooves. The drive path geometry in the first 100 sols of the mission emphasized the identification of abrasion facets and textures formed by westerly flow. This upwind direction is inconsistent with predictions based on models and the orientation of regional dunes, suggesting that these ventifact features formed from very rare high‐speed winds. The absence of active sand and evidence for deflation in the area indicates that most of the ventifacts are fossil features experiencing little abrasion today.