Burial and Exhumation of Sedimentary Rocks Revealed by the Base Stimson Erosional Unconformity, Gale Crater, Mars

dc.citation.articleNumbere2022JE007293en_US
dc.citation.issueNumber7en_US
dc.citation.journalTitleJournal of Geophysical Research: Planetsen_US
dc.citation.volumeNumber127en_US
dc.contributor.authorWatkins, Jessica A.en_US
dc.contributor.authorGrotzinger, John P.en_US
dc.contributor.authorStein, Nathan T.en_US
dc.contributor.authorBanham, Steven G.en_US
dc.contributor.authorGupta, Sanjeeven_US
dc.contributor.authorRubin, David M.en_US
dc.contributor.authorMorgan, Kathryn Stacken_US
dc.contributor.authorEdgett, Kenneth S.en_US
dc.contributor.authorFrydenvang, Jensen_US
dc.contributor.authorSiebach, Kirsten L.en_US
dc.contributor.authorLamb, Michael P.en_US
dc.contributor.authorSumner, Dawn Y.en_US
dc.contributor.authorLewis, Kevin W.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-09T17:09:27Zen_US
dc.date.available2022-08-09T17:09:27Zen_US
dc.date.issued2022en_US
dc.description.abstractSedimentary rocks record the ancient climate of Mars through changes between subaqueous and eolian depositional environments, recognized by their stratal geometries and suites of sedimentary structures. Orbiter- and rover-image-based geologic mapping show a dynamic evolution of the 5-km-thick sedimentary sequence exposed along the flanks of Aeolis Mons (informally, Mt. Sharp) in Gale crater, Mars, by deposition of subaqueous strata followed by exhumation via eolian erosion and then deposition of overlying, onlapping strata of inferred eolian origin. This interpretation suggests that a significant unconformity should occur at the base of the onlapping strata, thus predicting lateral variations in elevation along the contact between the underlying Mt. Sharp group and overlying Stimson formation. Curiosity rover and high-resolution orbital image data quantify paleotopographic variability associated with the contact; ∼140 m of net elevation change and a slope closely aligned with the modern topography is expressed along the regional contact. These results support the interpretation of an erosional unconformity between these strata and that it was likely formed as a result of eolian erosion within the crater, indicative of a transition from wet to dry climate and providing insight into the stratigraphic context, geologic history, and habitability within Gale crater.en_US
dc.identifier.citationWatkins, Jessica A., Grotzinger, John P., Stein, Nathan T., et al.. "Burial and Exhumation of Sedimentary Rocks Revealed by the Base Stimson Erosional Unconformity, Gale Crater, Mars." <i>Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets,</i> 127, no. 7 (2022) Wiley: https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007293.en_US
dc.identifier.digital2022-Watkinsen_US
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007293en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/113081en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherWileyen_US
dc.rightsThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.en_US
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en_US
dc.titleBurial and Exhumation of Sedimentary Rocks Revealed by the Base Stimson Erosional Unconformity, Gale Crater, Marsen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.type.dcmiTexten_US
dc.type.publicationpublisher versionen_US
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