Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Diverse Lava Flow Morphologies in the Stratigraphy of the Jezero Crater Floor

Alwmark, S. LU ; Horgan, B. ; Udry, A. ; Bechtold, A. ; Fagents, S. ; Ravanis, E. ; Crumpler, L. ; Schmitz, N. ; Cloutis, E. and Brown, A. , et al. (2023) In Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 128(7).
Abstract

We present a combined geomorphologic, multispectral, and geochemical analysis of crater floor rocks in Jezero crater based on data obtained by the Mast Camera Zoom and SuperCam instruments onboard the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The combined data from this analysis together with the results of a comparative study with geologic sites on Earth allows us to interpret the origins of rocks exposed along the Artuby ridge, a ∼900 m long scarp of lower Máaz formation rocks. The ridge exposes rocks belonging to two morphologically distinct members, Artuby and Rochette, both of which have basaltic composition and are spectrally indistinguishable in our analysis. Artuby rocks consist of morphologically distinct units that alternate over the... (More)

We present a combined geomorphologic, multispectral, and geochemical analysis of crater floor rocks in Jezero crater based on data obtained by the Mast Camera Zoom and SuperCam instruments onboard the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The combined data from this analysis together with the results of a comparative study with geologic sites on Earth allows us to interpret the origins of rocks exposed along the Artuby ridge, a ∼900 m long scarp of lower Máaz formation rocks. The ridge exposes rocks belonging to two morphologically distinct members, Artuby and Rochette, both of which have basaltic composition and are spectrally indistinguishable in our analysis. Artuby rocks consist of morphologically distinct units that alternate over the ridge, bulbous, hummocky, layers with varying thicknesses that in places appear to have flowed over underlying strata, and sub-planar thinner laterally continuous layers with variable friability. The Rochette member has a massive appearance with pronounced pitting and sub-horizontal partings. Our findings are most consistent with a primary igneous emplacement as lava flows, through multiple eruptions, and we propose that the thin layers result either from preferential weathering, interbedded ash/tephra layers, ʻaʻā clinker layers, or aeolian deposition. Our analyses provide essential geologic context for the Máaz formation samples that will be returned to Earth and highlight the diversity and complexity of geologic processes on Mars not visible from orbit.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and , et al. (More)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and (Less)
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Artuby, Jezero crater, Lava, Maaz formation, Mars 2020 Perseverance
in
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
volume
128
issue
7
article number
e2022JE007446
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85163364182
ISSN
2169-9097
DOI
10.1029/2022JE007446
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
62a60c94-f35c-43d5-8546-14c49fc66b44
date added to LUP
2023-09-13 11:32:38
date last changed
2023-09-13 11:32:38
@article{62a60c94-f35c-43d5-8546-14c49fc66b44,
  abstract     = {{<p>We present a combined geomorphologic, multispectral, and geochemical analysis of crater floor rocks in Jezero crater based on data obtained by the Mast Camera Zoom and SuperCam instruments onboard the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The combined data from this analysis together with the results of a comparative study with geologic sites on Earth allows us to interpret the origins of rocks exposed along the Artuby ridge, a ∼900 m long scarp of lower Máaz formation rocks. The ridge exposes rocks belonging to two morphologically distinct members, Artuby and Rochette, both of which have basaltic composition and are spectrally indistinguishable in our analysis. Artuby rocks consist of morphologically distinct units that alternate over the ridge, bulbous, hummocky, layers with varying thicknesses that in places appear to have flowed over underlying strata, and sub-planar thinner laterally continuous layers with variable friability. The Rochette member has a massive appearance with pronounced pitting and sub-horizontal partings. Our findings are most consistent with a primary igneous emplacement as lava flows, through multiple eruptions, and we propose that the thin layers result either from preferential weathering, interbedded ash/tephra layers, ʻaʻā clinker layers, or aeolian deposition. Our analyses provide essential geologic context for the Máaz formation samples that will be returned to Earth and highlight the diversity and complexity of geologic processes on Mars not visible from orbit.</p>}},
  author       = {{Alwmark, S. and Horgan, B. and Udry, A. and Bechtold, A. and Fagents, S. and Ravanis, E. and Crumpler, L. and Schmitz, N. and Cloutis, E. and Brown, A. and Flannery, D. and Gasnault, O. and Grotzinger, J. and Gupta, S. and Kah, L. and Kelemen, P. and Kinch, K. and Núñez, J.}},
  issn         = {{2169-9097}},
  keywords     = {{Artuby; Jezero crater; Lava; Maaz formation; Mars 2020 Perseverance}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets}},
  title        = {{Diverse Lava Flow Morphologies in the Stratigraphy of the Jezero Crater Floor}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007446}},
  doi          = {{10.1029/2022JE007446}},
  volume       = {{128}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}