Chemical alteration of fine-grained sedimentary rocks at Gale crater

N. Mangold; E. Dehouck; C. Fedo; O. Forni; C. Achilles; T. Bristow; R. T. Downs; J. Frydenvang; O. Gasnault; J. L'Haridon; L. Le Deit; S. Maurice; S. M. McLennan; P. Y. Meslin; S. Morrison; H. E. Newsom; E. Rampe; W. Rapin; F. Rivera-Hernandez; M. Salvatore; R. C. Wiens

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2018.11.004

Chemical alteration of fine-grained sedimentary rocks at Gale crater

N. Mangold, E. Dehouck, C. Fedo, O. Forni, C. Achilles, T. Bristow, R. T. Downs, J. Frydenvang, O. Gasnault, J. L'Haridon, L. Le Deit, S. Maurice, S. M. McLennan, P. Y. Meslin, S. Morrison, H. E. Newsom, E. Rampe, W. Rapin, F. Rivera-Hernandez, M. SalvatoreR. C. Wiens

Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

From Sol 750 to 1550, the Curiosity rover documented>100 m thick stack of fine-grained sedimentary rocks making up part of the Murray formation, at the base of Mt Sharp, Gale crater. Here, we use data collected by the ChemCam instrument to estimate the level of chemical weathering in these sedimentary rocks. Both the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) and the Weathering Index Scale (WIS) indicate a progressive increase in alteration up section, reaching values of CIA of 63 and WIS of 25%. The increase in CIA and WIS values is coupled with a decrease in calcium abundance, suggesting partial dissolution of Ca-bearing minerals (clinopyroxene and plagioclase). Mineralogy from the CheMin X-ray diffraction instrument indicates a decrease in mafic minerals compared with previously analyzed strata and a significant proportion of phyllosilicates consistent with this interpretation. These observations suggest that the sediments were predominantly altered in an open system, before or during their emplacement, contrasting with the rock-dominated conditions inferred in sedimentary deposits analyzed at Yellowknife Bay.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	619-631
Number of pages	13
Journal	Icarus
Volume	321
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2018.11.004
State	Published - Mar 15 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1016/j.icarus.2018.11.004

Cite this

Mangold, N., Dehouck, E., Fedo, C., Forni, O., Achilles, C., Bristow, T., Downs, R. T., Frydenvang, J., Gasnault, O., L'Haridon, J., Le Deit, L., Maurice, S., McLennan, S. M., Meslin, P. Y., Morrison, S., Newsom, H. E., Rampe, E., Rapin, W., Rivera-Hernandez, F., ... Wiens, R. C. (2019). Chemical alteration of fine-grained sedimentary rocks at Gale crater. Icarus, 321, 619-631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2018.11.004

Mangold, N, Dehouck, E, Fedo, C, Forni, O, Achilles, C, Bristow, T, Downs, RT, Frydenvang, J, Gasnault, O, L'Haridon, J, Le Deit, L, Maurice, S, McLennan, SM, Meslin, PY, Morrison, S, Newsom, HE, Rampe, E, Rapin, W, Rivera-Hernandez, F, Salvatore, M & Wiens, RC 2019, 'Chemical alteration of fine-grained sedimentary rocks at Gale crater', Icarus, vol. 321, pp. 619-631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2018.11.004

@article{c4526e2e89cc4a7e8db9a20cec9ad008,

title = "Chemical alteration of fine-grained sedimentary rocks at Gale crater",

abstract = "From Sol 750 to 1550, the Curiosity rover documented>100 m thick stack of fine-grained sedimentary rocks making up part of the Murray formation, at the base of Mt Sharp, Gale crater. Here, we use data collected by the ChemCam instrument to estimate the level of chemical weathering in these sedimentary rocks. Both the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) and the Weathering Index Scale (WIS) indicate a progressive increase in alteration up section, reaching values of CIA of 63 and WIS of 25%. The increase in CIA and WIS values is coupled with a decrease in calcium abundance, suggesting partial dissolution of Ca-bearing minerals (clinopyroxene and plagioclase). Mineralogy from the CheMin X-ray diffraction instrument indicates a decrease in mafic minerals compared with previously analyzed strata and a significant proportion of phyllosilicates consistent with this interpretation. These observations suggest that the sediments were predominantly altered in an open system, before or during their emplacement, contrasting with the rock-dominated conditions inferred in sedimentary deposits analyzed at Yellowknife Bay.",

author = "N. Mangold and E. Dehouck and C. Fedo and O. Forni and C. Achilles and T. Bristow and Downs, {R. T.} and J. Frydenvang and O. Gasnault and J. L'Haridon and {Le Deit}, L. and S. Maurice and McLennan, {S. M.} and Meslin, {P. Y.} and S. Morrison and Newsom, {H. E.} and E. Rampe and W. Rapin and F. Rivera-Hernandez and M. Salvatore and Wiens, {R. C.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2019",

month = mar,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.icarus.2018.11.004",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "321",

pages = "619--631",

journal = "Icarus",

issn = "0019-1035",

publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Chemical alteration of fine-grained sedimentary rocks at Gale crater

AU - Mangold, N.

AU - Dehouck, E.

AU - Fedo, C.

AU - Forni, O.

AU - Achilles, C.

AU - Bristow, T.

AU - Downs, R. T.

AU - Frydenvang, J.

AU - Gasnault, O.

AU - L'Haridon, J.

AU - Le Deit, L.

AU - Maurice, S.

AU - McLennan, S. M.

AU - Meslin, P. Y.

AU - Morrison, S.

AU - Newsom, H. E.

AU - Rampe, E.

AU - Rapin, W.

AU - Rivera-Hernandez, F.

AU - Salvatore, M.

AU - Wiens, R. C.

PY - 2019/3/15

Y1 - 2019/3/15

N2 - From Sol 750 to 1550, the Curiosity rover documented>100 m thick stack of fine-grained sedimentary rocks making up part of the Murray formation, at the base of Mt Sharp, Gale crater. Here, we use data collected by the ChemCam instrument to estimate the level of chemical weathering in these sedimentary rocks. Both the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) and the Weathering Index Scale (WIS) indicate a progressive increase in alteration up section, reaching values of CIA of 63 and WIS of 25%. The increase in CIA and WIS values is coupled with a decrease in calcium abundance, suggesting partial dissolution of Ca-bearing minerals (clinopyroxene and plagioclase). Mineralogy from the CheMin X-ray diffraction instrument indicates a decrease in mafic minerals compared with previously analyzed strata and a significant proportion of phyllosilicates consistent with this interpretation. These observations suggest that the sediments were predominantly altered in an open system, before or during their emplacement, contrasting with the rock-dominated conditions inferred in sedimentary deposits analyzed at Yellowknife Bay.

AB - From Sol 750 to 1550, the Curiosity rover documented>100 m thick stack of fine-grained sedimentary rocks making up part of the Murray formation, at the base of Mt Sharp, Gale crater. Here, we use data collected by the ChemCam instrument to estimate the level of chemical weathering in these sedimentary rocks. Both the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) and the Weathering Index Scale (WIS) indicate a progressive increase in alteration up section, reaching values of CIA of 63 and WIS of 25%. The increase in CIA and WIS values is coupled with a decrease in calcium abundance, suggesting partial dissolution of Ca-bearing minerals (clinopyroxene and plagioclase). Mineralogy from the CheMin X-ray diffraction instrument indicates a decrease in mafic minerals compared with previously analyzed strata and a significant proportion of phyllosilicates consistent with this interpretation. These observations suggest that the sediments were predominantly altered in an open system, before or during their emplacement, contrasting with the rock-dominated conditions inferred in sedimentary deposits analyzed at Yellowknife Bay.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058403760&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85058403760&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.icarus.2018.11.004

DO - 10.1016/j.icarus.2018.11.004

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85058403760

SN - 0019-1035

VL - 321

SP - 619

EP - 631

JO - Icarus

JF - Icarus

ER -

Chemical alteration of fine-grained sedimentary rocks at Gale crater

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this