Geomorphology of Gale Crater, Rock on! |
Geomorphology of Gale Crater, Rock on! |
Sep 26 2012, 10:22 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3516 Joined: 4-November 05 From: North Wales Member No.: 542 |
I'd like a discussion thread about the geology detatched from the time limits of current MSL threads. We had a 'Geomorphology of Cape York' thread that attracted a lot of interesting posts. How about 'Geomorphology of Gale Crater'? I have one or two ideas but many more questions, and I'd like to post them in a longer-running thread away from the day to day imaging discussion. Any other takers?
For starters, does anybody have a contour map of this place like the one at Meridiani with 5m intervals? ADMIN: You have your wishes fulfilled on UMSF (sometimes) |
|
|
Jun 10 2019, 04:38 PM
Post
#2
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 306 Joined: 4-October 14 Member No.: 7273 |
In addition, acidic waters rapidly neutralize in basaltic systems due to weathering reactions. Groundwater flowing up from below would need to interact with a far greater volume of rock than water coming from above, so it is less likely to contain strongly acidic fluids. There would have been a very clear acidic alteration signature in the underlying stratigraphy associated with the level of alteration seen at VRR if it were groundwater.
|
|
|
Jun 10 2019, 08:10 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 684 Joined: 24-July 15 Member No.: 7619 |
In addition, acidic waters rapidly neutralize in basaltic systems due to weathering reactions. Groundwater flowing up from below would need to interact with a far greater volume of rock than water coming from above, so it is less likely to contain strongly acidic fluids. There would have been a very clear acidic alteration signature in the underlying stratigraphy associated with the level of alteration seen at VRR if it were groundwater. Good point, but wouldn't acidic groundwater working through a deep fissure weather the basalt to silicate and "skin over" the reactive surface? Rather like aluminum is so reactive that it doesn't rust? Given Gale's proximity to a possible highstand ocean shoreline, does the possibility that the crater had significant interaction with a Martian northern ocean/saltwater change the chemistry a bit? I'm specifically thinking about how slumping effects and saltwater lenses might be tied to groundwater chemistry. "Chesapeake Bay impact structure:Morphology, crater fill, and relevance for impact structures on Mars" from 2006. |
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 5th June 2024 - 06:00 PM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |