The Geology of Jezero Crater, Observations & Findings |
The Geology of Jezero Crater, Observations & Findings |
Feb 24 2021, 01:41 AM
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
This thread is for those rockhounds among us to discuss the new terrain we'll see as Perseverance scoots around her new home. Let's get dirty & technical!
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Feb 24 2021, 03:11 AM
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 94 Joined: 11-August 12 Member No.: 6536 |
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Feb 24 2021, 09:48 AM
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 52 Joined: 1-March 11 From: Houston, USA Member No.: 5860 |
Some resources: A recent USGS geological map of the Jezero Crater region (big pdf) LPSC 2021 abstract: Mineralology of Jezero LPSC 2021 abstract: Jezero floor unit LPSC 2021 abstract: Carbonates in Jezero The link above to the abstract on carbonates in Jezero is an inadvertent duplicate of link to the the Jezero floor abstract. This is the correct link to the abstract on carbonates in Jezero: LPSC 2021 abstract: Carbonates in Jezero |
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Feb 24 2021, 05:00 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2530 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 321 |
For now, we have a mission that'll be exploring that floor unit, which isn't the reason why Perseverance came to Jezero but it's a matter of fate that we'll have the best set of instruments ever to reach another planet rolling over and exploring that. We're going to read the history of Mars in reverse, which is quite different from Curiosity, which hit oldest units in Gale early, then rolled upwards and forwards in time.
I like the Hundal, et al paper that compares the Jezero layering with that of Isidis. I wonder about Jezero vs. Gusev. For Spirit, the floor unit was a showstopping barrier that prevented the rover from making any direct contact with the history of the river+lake environment. The Columbia Hills ended up being a bit of a consolation prize, and a surprise, where water vented upwards after the lake was gone. I don't know if Perseverance will find anything similar in Jezero, and I doubt it, since we can see the 2km to the delta and it looks flat, but maybe there'll be some equivalent. In the short term, I think we're going to learn about the nature of a sort of "impact gardening" that took place on a massive scale on Mars, flinging rocks and boulders long distance, mantling the ancient landscapes. As such, I can't see any reason why it would be very different here than in Gusev, but maybe the individual regional impacts will make for a different story. I'm struck by how many rocks peeking up through the sand and dust seem to hold to one general contour just at or very slightly above the surface. Does this mean that erosion has worn a once-deeper layer down a bit, and if so, what was so effective in planing these rocks down? Chemical or aeolian erosion? |
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