Martian Fluvial Conglomerates at Gale Crater

R.M.E. Williams; J.P. Grotzinger; W.E. Dietrich; S. Gupta; D.Y. Sumner; R.C. Wiens; Morten Bo Madsen; Asmus Koefoed; Jacob Krüger Jensen

doi:10.1126/science.1237317

Martian Fluvial Conglomerates at Gale Crater

R.M.E. Williams, J.P. Grotzinger, W.E. Dietrich, S. Gupta, D.Y. Sumner, R.C. Wiens, Morten Bo Madsen, Asmus Koefoed, Jacob Krüger Jensen

252 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory Mast Camera (Mastcam) in Gale crater reveal isolated outcrops of cemented pebbles (2 to 40 millimeters in diameter) and sand grains with textures typical of fluvial sedimentary conglomerates. Rounded pebbles in the conglomerates indicate substantial fluvial abrasion. ChemCam emission spectra at one outcrop show a predominantly feldspathic composition, consistent with minimal aqueous alteration of sediments. Sediment was mobilized in ancient water flows that likely exceeded the threshold conditions (depth 0.03 to 0.9 meter, average velocity 0.20 to 0.75 meter per second) required to transport the pebbles. Climate conditions at the time sediment was transported must have differed substantially from the cold, hyper-arid modern environment to permit aqueous flows across several kilometers.

Original language	English
Journal	Science
Volume	340
Issue number	6136
Pages (from-to)	1068-1072
Number of pages	5
ISSN	0036-8075
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1237317
Publication status	Published - 31 May 2013

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title = "Martian Fluvial Conglomerates at Gale Crater",

abstract = "Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory Mast Camera (Mastcam) in Gale crater reveal isolated outcrops of cemented pebbles (2 to 40 millimeters in diameter) and sand grains with textures typical of fluvial sedimentary conglomerates. Rounded pebbles in the conglomerates indicate substantial fluvial abrasion. ChemCam emission spectra at one outcrop show a predominantly feldspathic composition, consistent with minimal aqueous alteration of sediments. Sediment was mobilized in ancient water flows that likely exceeded the threshold conditions (depth 0.03 to 0.9 meter, average velocity 0.20 to 0.75 meter per second) required to transport the pebbles. Climate conditions at the time sediment was transported must have differed substantially from the cold, hyper-arid modern environment to permit aqueous flows across several kilometers.",

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T1 - Martian Fluvial Conglomerates at Gale Crater

AU - Williams, R.M.E.

AU - Grotzinger, J.P.

AU - Dietrich, W.E.

AU - Gupta, S.

AU - Sumner, D.Y.

AU - Wiens, R.C.

AU - Madsen, Morten Bo

AU - Koefoed, Asmus

AU - Jensen, Jacob Krüger

PY - 2013/5/31

Y1 - 2013/5/31

N2 - Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory Mast Camera (Mastcam) in Gale crater reveal isolated outcrops of cemented pebbles (2 to 40 millimeters in diameter) and sand grains with textures typical of fluvial sedimentary conglomerates. Rounded pebbles in the conglomerates indicate substantial fluvial abrasion. ChemCam emission spectra at one outcrop show a predominantly feldspathic composition, consistent with minimal aqueous alteration of sediments. Sediment was mobilized in ancient water flows that likely exceeded the threshold conditions (depth 0.03 to 0.9 meter, average velocity 0.20 to 0.75 meter per second) required to transport the pebbles. Climate conditions at the time sediment was transported must have differed substantially from the cold, hyper-arid modern environment to permit aqueous flows across several kilometers.

AB - Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory Mast Camera (Mastcam) in Gale crater reveal isolated outcrops of cemented pebbles (2 to 40 millimeters in diameter) and sand grains with textures typical of fluvial sedimentary conglomerates. Rounded pebbles in the conglomerates indicate substantial fluvial abrasion. ChemCam emission spectra at one outcrop show a predominantly feldspathic composition, consistent with minimal aqueous alteration of sediments. Sediment was mobilized in ancient water flows that likely exceeded the threshold conditions (depth 0.03 to 0.9 meter, average velocity 0.20 to 0.75 meter per second) required to transport the pebbles. Climate conditions at the time sediment was transported must have differed substantially from the cold, hyper-arid modern environment to permit aqueous flows across several kilometers.

U2 - 10.1126/science.1237317

DO - 10.1126/science.1237317

M3 - Journal article

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VL - 340

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JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6136

ER -

Martian Fluvial Conglomerates at Gale Crater

Abstract

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