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Proposal for In-Situ Study of Martian Sedimentological History in Gale Crater

This proposal suggests conducting in-situ studies in Gale Crater to investigate the sedimentological history of Mars. The goal is to understand the composition and formation of the layered deposits and fluvial features, as well as the nature of the mound material. The proposal highlights the accessibility and preservation of fine-scale layered stratigraphy in the crater, making it a promising site for studying ancient fluvial environments.

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Proposal for In-Situ Study of Martian Sedimentological History in Gale Crater

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  1. Studies of Martian Sedimentological History Through In-Situ Study of Gale (and Oudemans?) Crater(s): A Proposal for the Mars Science Laboratory Nathan Bridges Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  2. Oudemans?

  3. It’s Too High

  4. Acknowledgements Pictures: MOC (MSSS) and THEMIS (ASU) Most of the science: Malin and Edgett (MSSS); I am an advocate for this site, but have not done detailed investigations like M and E have.

  5. MOLA

  6. THEMIS VIS

  7. THEMIS IR

  8. Gale layers near mound

  9. Eastern Gale

  10. Exhumation

  11. Gale Crater Characteristics Suite of layered deposits and more recent fluvial features Basal layers are finally bedded (lake bed sediments?) Basal layers surmounted by a massive mound of material that is higher than the crater (Medusa Fossae material? What is it?) Layers have been partially stripped away. How?

  12. Engineering Constraints (MER ellipse) • Ellipses: 20 x 20 cm can fit in many good places • Bulk Inertia (TES, IRTM): 323, 316 • Fine Comp. Inertia (IRTM): 240 • Rocks (IRTM): 15 • Albedo (TES): 0.215 • Elevation: -3.6 km

  13. Land north of filled channel; drive through channel and up through strata. ROI: 4.8S,142.0E 4.8S,142.4E 5.1S,142.0E 5.1S,142.0E Land south of fine layers, drive through fine layers and up into mound. ROI: 5.4S,142.3E 5.7S,142.7

  14. MSL Investigations of Gale • Investigation of Fine Layers • This is probably an ancient cratered lake which, unlike Gusev, preserves fine-scale layered stratigraphy. • Many layers were covered for some time prior to exhumation and may be well preserved. They are certainly well exposed and accessible. This is a promising site to study possible ancient fluvial (biological?) environments • Study of mound material will address nature of enigmatic mantle over much of Mars. • Study of more recent channels may provide information on fluvial processes. • All of this needs more refinement, including finalizing the best ellipse and rover path. However, Gale is a good site.

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