Mineralogy of a mudstone at Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars

MSL Science Team

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519 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sedimentary rocks at Yellowknife Bay (Gale crater) on Mars include mudstone sampled by the Curiosity rover. The samples, John Klein and Cumberland, contain detrital basaltic minerals, calcium sulfates, iron oxide or hydroxides, iron sulfides, amorphous material, and trioctahedral smectites. The John Klein smectite has basal spacing of ∼10 angstroms, indicating little interlayer hydration. The Cumberland smectite has basal spacing at both ∼13.2 and ∼10 angstroms. The larger spacing suggests a partially chloritized interlayer or interlayer magnesium or calcium facilitating H2O retention. Basaltic minerals in the mudstone are similar to those in nearby eolian deposits. However, the mudstone has far less Fe-forsterite, possibly lost with formation of smectite plus magnetite. Late Noachian/Early Hesperian or younger age indicates that clay mineral formation on Mars extended beyond Noachian time.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1243480
JournalScience
Volume343
Issue number6169
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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