Open AccessIntense subaerial weathering of eolian sediments in Gale crater, Mars
Author(s) -
Jiacheng Liu,
J. R. Michalski,
MeiFu Zhou
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
science advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.928
H-Index - 146
ISSN - 2375-2548
DOI - 10.1126/sciadv.abh2687
Subject(s) - subaerial , weathering , geology , impact crater , aeolian processes , sedimentary rock , mars exploration program , geochemistry , clastic rock , astrobiology , geomorphology , physics
After over 8 years of successful surface operations on Mars, the Curiosity rover has revealed much about the environment in Gale crater. Despite early observations of a lacustrine environment, few of the subsequent deposits exhibit demonstrable lacustrine character. We suggest instead that most of the stratigraphic section explored to date can be best explained as eolian and/or volcaniclastic sediments subaerially chemically weathered by acidic precipitation in a reduced atmosphere. Most of the deposits in Gale crater seemingly did not form in an ancient lake, but the results nonetheless shed considerable light on ancient climate, environmental change, and the astrobiology of Mars. Discoveries by Curiosity provide a critical piece to Mars' global alteration puzzle.