Geomorphology of Cape York and Solander Point, Examining Opportunity's destination at Endeavour Crater Options

[Stu]

Everyone, say hello to Cape York... in colour...



Larger version on my blog: http://roadtoendeavour.wordpress.com/2010/...-york-in-colour

[algorimancer]

...Cape York... in colour...
...

This is a great picture, with fascinating geology going on.

For instance, being a crater rim, I would not expect neat layering; I find it difficult to explain the "ringing" about Cape York in a manner other than waterlines. I see at least 4 major levels. I'd love to see this in 3D.

At the upper end there is a steep wedge-shaped incision (see highlighted image below). Note that the wedge cuts through at least two of the "rings", and appears to project a fair distance to the north (?). I'm inclined interpret it as a landslide, but having difficulty with the mechanism; I suppose it could be an eroded fracture. In the highlighted image, the point of the wedge has its origin between the highlighted green and blue rings; this region is very smooth, such that I am tempted to interpret it as the remains of a beach. Sheer speculation, of course Overall, the northern end of Cape York looks the most interesting, and I very much look forward to a pic from Oppy looking down on the Wedge.

[ElkGroveDan]

At the upper end there is a steep wedge-shaped incision (see highlighted image below).

With regard to the "wedge-shaped" cut...if you ask me I see a sinuous channel above the wedge and slightly east that you can follow up to the two depressions at the top of the formation. I've been staring at this for months and (call me crazy, go ahead) I can imagine the whole region covered in a slowly receding body of water.

The rim of Endeavour would at first have been something like a circular archipelago. As the water level receded you could see how two lagoons might have formed in those depressions. They might later have become lakes or ponds as the water receded almost to the base of Cape York. If something caused those those lagoons to drain suddenly to the north, you would get a meandering stream on the slope, but when it reached the steeper ledge of the apron it would have been a more energetic stream or even a waterfall that would have eroded backward creating the wedge.

You can also see how the channel becomes broader at the base of the cut where the slope becomes more gradual, creating something akin to an alluvial fan or a mini-delta. If you follow on past the wedge you can almost see a small round low lying basin next to a crater where the water might have collected before evaporating or settling into an underground water table.

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