Mineralogy and fluvial history of the watersheds of Gale, Knobel, and Sharp craters: A regional context for the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity's exploration

摘要: A 500 km long network of valleys extends from Herschel crater to Gale, Knobel, and Sharp craters. The mineralogy timing fluvial activity in these watersheds provide a regional framework for deciphering the origin sediments Gale crater's Mount Sharp, an exploration target Curiosity rover. Olivine-bearing bedrock is exposed throughout region, its erosion contributed widespread olivine-bearing sand dunes. Fe/Mg phyllosilicates are found both sediments, implying that materials deposited may have inherited clay minerals, transported watershed. While some topographic lows Sharp-Knobel watershed host chloride salts, only salts detected sulfates within or temporal differences water chemistry. Crater counts indicate progressively more spatially localized aqueous activity: large-scale valley ceased by early Hesperian, though later Hesperian/Amazonian continued near