Desiccation cracks provide evidence of lake drying on Mars, Sutton Island Member, Murray Formation, Gale Crater

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover data are used to describe the morphology of desiccation cracks observed in ancient lacustrine strata at Gale crater, Mars, and to interpret their paleoenvironmental setting. The desiccation cracks indicate subaerial exposure of lacustrine facies in the S...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geology (Boulder) 2018-04, Vol.46 (6), p.515-518
Main Authors: Stein, N, Grotzinger, J. P, Schieber, J, Mangold, N, Hallet, Bernard, Newsom, H, Stack, Kathryn M, Berger, J. A, Thompson, L, Siebach, K. L, Cousin, A, Le Mouélic, S, Minitti, M, Sumner, D. Y, Fedo, C, House, C. H, Gupta, S, Vasavada, A. R, Gellert, R, Wiens, R. C, Frydenvang, J, Forni, O, Meslin, P. Y, Payré, V, Dehouck, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
chemical composition
clastic rocks
Climate change
Climate models
Climate science
Cracks
Curiosity (Mars rover)
Density stratification
depositional environment
Desiccants
Desiccation
Drying
Earth Sciences
Exposure
Extraterrestrial geology
fractures
Gale Crater
Geology
GEOSCIENCES
lacustrine environment
Lakes
Mars
Mars climate
Mars craters
Mars rovers
Morphology
mudstone
Murray Formation
Planetary Sciences
Planetology
planets
polygonal fractures
Regional climates
sandstone
Sciences of the Universe
sedimentary rocks
sedimentary structures
Strata
Stratification
Sutton Island Member
terrestrial planets
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Summary:Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover data are used to describe the morphology of desiccation cracks observed in ancient lacustrine strata at Gale crater, Mars, and to interpret their paleoenvironmental setting. The desiccation cracks indicate subaerial exposure of lacustrine facies in the Sutton Island member of the Murray formation. In association with ripple cross-stratification and possible eolian cross-bedding, these facies indicate a transition from longer-lived perennial lakes recorded by older strata to younger lakes characterized by intermittent exposure. The transition from perennial to episodically exposed lacustrine environments provides evidence for local to regional climate change that can help constrain Mars climate models.
ISSN:0091-7613
1943-2682
DOI:10.1130/G40005.1