Fluvial Deposits in Margaritifer Basin

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Fluvial Deposits in Margaritifer Basin

• Kevin K. Williams and John A. Grant
• Center for Earth and Planetary Studies,
  Smithsonian Institution
• Corey M. Fortezzo
• Department of Geology, Northern Arizona University

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Fluvial Deposits in Margaritifer Basin
Noachian through Amazonian terrains complex and
interesting fluvial history interesting
minerals other water/ice related features nearby
volcano-water interactions veins of gold at this
point, it looks safe
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LocationMC-19 is eastof Valles Marineris
Argye
Margaritifer basin
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MB2
MB1
MB1 12º 40.97 S / 338º 06.34 E MB2 11º
41.83 S / 337º 16.95 E
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Overview of geologic setting
Margaritifer basin is located at the confluence
plain of the UHLM, Samara, and Parana- Loire
valley systems These three valley systems drain
a large area of Mars, and it appears that water
ponded in Margaritifer basin. -gt possibility
of sampling material from a broad area
of the martian highlands
Widespread fluvial activity extended from the
Noachian into the mid- to late-Hesperian Latest
activity in MB extended into the Amazonian
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Large scale geologic map
Hch Hesperian channel
Npl1 Noachian plateau sequence
Nplh Noachian hilly plains
1500,000 geologic map More detailed unit
boundaries Younger units in Margaritifer
basin Nearby, chaos, collapse, volcanics,
Noachian remnants


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1500,000 geologic map More detailed unit
boundaries Younger units in Margaritifer
basin Nearby, chaos, collapse, volcanics,
Noachian remnants


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Layering in plains of Margaritifer basin
Edge of channel in MB
Amazonian plains
MOC image E04-00861 NASA/JPL/MSSS
MOC image NASA/JPL/MSSS
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Layering in plains of Margaritifer basin
High res. imaging in landing circles will likely
reveal layering there
MOC image E04-00861 NASA/JPL/MSSS
MOC image NASA/JPL/MSSS
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THEMIS VIS views
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THEMIS VIS views
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Within Margaritifer basin, fluvial activity took
place from the Noachian through the Amazonian
Geomorphic evidence suggests that water ponded
in MB and infiltrated into the subsurface,
possibly getting re-mobilized during collapse
and outwash through Ares Valles The basin plain
is mainly smooth with higher remnants and areas
where the layers of deposited material are
exposed where they have been etched into Nearby
activity also includes chaotic terrain, collapse,
and a volcanic feature that may have interacted
with water/ice
Past through recent/present areas of habitable
potential
Prolonged accumulation of water
Access to spatially and temporally diverse
material
Increase in geologic features and potential for
habitability
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Elevation Landing ellipses are lower than -2
km MB1 -2120 m MB2 -2535 m
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Slopes calculated from MOLA
Requirement lt3º over 2-5 km
gt15º
5º lt x lt 15º
3º lt x lt 5º
3º
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Surface roughness
Very low within landing ellipses Rock abundance
10 (need more info)
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TES dust coverage Requirement low
TES thermal inertia Requirement gt 100 J m-2
s-0.5
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Essentially 0 at landing sites
MB1 264-428 avg. 315 MB2 289-378 avg. 331
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TES hematite (on 0 - 0.2 scale)
TES carbonates
MB1 0.07 - 0.08 MB2 0.06 - 0.08
MB1 low but .025 to NE MB2 0.02
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TES sulfates
MB1 0.03 - 0.05 MB2 0.04 - 0.08
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Engineering summary Elevation very low. lots
of time to slow down Slopes generally gentle,
but more info will be helpful Surface roughness
landing ellipses appear to meet requirements and
allow access to nearby rougher ROIs Thermal
inertia High thermal inertia Minerals
Relatively high levels of hematite, carbonates,
and sulfates Albedo lt 0.25
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• Summary
• Margaritifer basin has a complex and long-lived
  fluvial history
• that involves ponding of water
• This area provides access to materials from
  diverse areas
• of the martian highlands
• These materials also span fluvial activity from
  the Noachian
• though the Amazonian
• Layers from episodes of activity likely exist in
  landing area
• Nearby chaos, collapse, and volcanics increase
  scientific
• interest and potential for habitability
• At this stage, both circles appear safe

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