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Overview and Initial Results of DIGMARS: Digging Iceland Geology for Mars Analog Research SciencePreserved in the sedimentary rocks of Mars is a rich record of ancient surface environments and burial diagenesis. Sequences of sandstones and mudstones that indicate sedimentation in deltaic and lacustrine environments have been encountered by the Curiosity rover in Gale crater and likely will be by the Perseverance rover in Jezero crater [1-3]. The compositional variability in these sedimentary rocks points to a complex diagenetic story that bears significantly on the basin history and early martian environment. Because interaction of percolating groundwaters and with unconsolidated sediments is a process commonly observed in lacustrine environments on Earth [4], groundwater has been invoked to develop a sedimentary history for Gale crater [e.g., 5-9]. Unique conceptual models, each with their own implications for the paleoenvironment and hydrologic conditions have been put forward. However, we currently lack a terrestrial reference frame for groundwater-driven diagenesis in a basalt dominated watersheds on Earth. The Digging Iceland Geology for Mars Analog Research Science (DIGMARS) project aims to close this research gap, with the goal of exploring groundwater-sediment interaction from lakes around Iceland. Here, we present the initial results for the 2021 field campaign and the laboratory analysis of aqueous and sediment samples.
Document ID
20210026543
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
M T Thorpe
(Jacobs (United States) Dallas, Texas, United States)
E B Rampe
(Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas, United States)
J.J. Tamborski
(Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia, United States)
K. L. Siebach ORCID
(Rice University Houston, Texas, United States)
A. Putnam
(Rice University Houston, Texas, United States)
R. Kovtun
(Rice University Houston, Texas, United States)
K L Lynch
(Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston, Texas, United States)
D. Leeb
(Iceland Space Agency)
G. Gundjonsson
(Iceland Space Agency)
V M Tu
(Jacobs (United States) Dallas, Texas, United States)
R.C. Ewing
(Texas A&M Univ Killeen, Texas, United States)
C Bedford
(Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston, Texas, United States)
Date Acquired
January 10, 2022
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC)
Location: Houston, TX
Country: US
Start Date: March 7, 2022
End Date: March 11, 2022
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Institute
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: NASA 19-SSW19-0300
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Portions of document may include copyright protected material.
Technical Review
NASA Peer Committee
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