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Fluids During Diagenesis and Sulfate Vein Formation in Sediments at Gale Crater, MarsWe model the fluids involved in the alteration processes recorded in the Sheep bed Member mudstones of Yellowknife Bay (YKB), Gale crater, Mars, as revealed by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover investigations. We compare the Gale crater waters with fluids modeled for shergottites, nakhlites, and the ancient meteorite ALH 84001, as well as rocks analyzed by the Mars Exploration rovers, and with terrestrial ground and surface waters. The aqueous solution present during sediment alteration associated with phyllosilicate formation at Gale was high in Na, K, and Si; had low Mg, Fe, and Al concentrations relative to terrestrial ground waters such as the Deccan Traps and other modeled Mars fluids; and had near neutral to alkaline pH. Ca and S species were present in the 10(exp -3) to 10(exp -2) concentration range. A fluid local to Gale crater strata produced the alteration products observed by Curiosity and subsequent evaporation of this ground water- type fluid formed impure sulfate- and silica-rich deposits veins or horizons. In a second, separate stage of alteration, partial dissolution of this sulfate-rich layer in Yellowknife Bay,or beyond, led to the pure sulfate veins observed in YKB. This scenario is analogous to similar processes identified at a terrestrial site in Triassic sediments with gypsum veins of the Mercia Mudstone Group in Watchet Bay, UK.
Document ID
20170004857
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Schwenzer, S. P.
(Open Univ. Milton Keynes, United Kingdom)
Bridges, J. C.
(Leicester Univ. United Kingdom)
Weins, R. C.
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM, United States)
Conrad, P. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Kelley, S. P.
(Open Univ. Milton Keynes, United Kingdom)
Leveille, R.
(Canadian Space Agency Saint Hubert, Quebec, Canada)
Mangold, N.
(Laboratoire de Planetologie et Geodynamique de Nantes (LPG) Nantes, France)
Martin-Torres, J.
(Lulea Univ. Sweden)
McAdam, A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Newsom, H.
(New Mexico Univ. Albuquerque, NM, United States)
Zorzano, M. P.
(Lulea Univ. Sweden)
Rapin, W.
(Toulouse Univ. France)
Spray, J.
(Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planetologie (UMR) Toulouse, France)
Treiman, A. H.
(Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Westall, F.
(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Orleans, France)
Fairen, A. G.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Meslin, P.-Y.
(Toulouse Univ. France)
Date Acquired
June 1, 2017
Publication Date
July 20, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: Meteoritics & Planetary Science
Publisher: Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Meteoritical Society (MET)
Volume: 51
Issue: 11
ISSN: 1086-9379
e-ISSN: 1945-5100
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN42961
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Gale Crater
Mars
vein formation
fludis

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