Hydrogen Variability in the Murray Formation, Gale Crater, Mars.

ABSTRACT: The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover is exploring the Murray formation, a sequence of heterolithic mudstones and sandstones recording fluvial deltaic and lake deposits that comprise over 350 m of sedimentary strata within Gale crater. We examine >4,500 Murray formation bedrock points, employing recent laboratory calibrations for ChemCam laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy H measurements at millimeter scale. Bedrock in the Murray formation has an interquartile range of 2.3-3.1 wt.% H₂O, similar to measurements using the Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons and Sample Analysis at Mars instruments. However, specific stratigraphic intervals include high H targets (6-18 wt.% H₂O) correlated with Si, Mg, Ca, Mn, or Fe, indicating units with opal, hydrated Mg sulf

SUBMITTER: Thomas NH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7507757 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature