Jezero Delta Campaign, Sols 414-1000, 21 Apr 2022- 23 Dec 2023 Options

[Julius]

Think we can kick off the new phase of exploration at Jezero.

[tau]

Sol 497 SuperCam Remote Micro-Imager mosaic no. 2 with sol 492 Mastcam-Z context
and sol 489 Mastcam-Z left eye multispectral filters 1 to 6 principal components

[tdemko]

Sol 497 SuperCam Remote Micro-Imager mosaic no. 2 with sol 492 Mastcam-Z context
and sol 489 Mastcam-Z left eye multispectral filters 1 to 6 principal components

I love this view because we see lamination-scale sedimentary structures very well. Although this view shows seemingly boring, horizontal centimeter-scale units, the close (zoom in!) view gives some important details:

1) the structure is visible due to differential weathering on a fracture (probably a joint formed during exhumation), probably controlled by varied degrees of cementation
2) the centimeter-scale units seem to be fining- and better-sorted-upward, probably graded, couplets
3) although dominantly horizontal and planar parallel, the finer tops of some of the couplets are capped by an erosion surface about half of a couplet in amplitude (this is how we can say which is the top or bottom of the couplet), and they are distinctly wavey in profile
4) there is an overall fining-upward trend in the view

My interpretation would be that this is the deposit of a single, waning, but pulsing, sediment-gravity flow. The couplets are a record of the passage and aggradation of individual traction carpets, with bypass and erosion between. This facies is not inconsistent with deposition on a the outer mouth bar or front of a delta. The traction carpets could have been part of an expanding sheet-like flow, or associated with larger bedforms like antidunes or cyclic steps.

Not sure if this helps or hurts the S:N, Bill!