In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars

S. W. Squyres; J. P. Grotzinger; R. E. Arvidson; James Bell; W. Calvin; Philip Christensen; B. C. Clark; J. A. Crisp; W. H. Farrand; K. E. Herkenhoff; J. R. Johnson; G. Klingelhöfer; A. H. Knoll; S. M. McLennan; H. Y. McSween; R. V. Morris; J. W. Rice; R. Rieder; L. A. Soderblom

doi:10.1126/science.1104559

In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars

S. W. Squyres, J. P. Grotzinger, R. E. Arvidson, James Bell, W. Calvin, Philip Christensen, B. C. Clark, J. A. Crisp, W. H. Farrand, K. E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhöfer, A. H. Knoll, S. M. McLennan, H. Y. McSween, R. V. Morris, J. W. Rice, R. Rieder, L. A. Soderblom

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Abstract

Sedimentary rocks at Eagle crater in Meridiani Planum are composed of fine-grained siliciclastic materials derived from weathering of basaltic rocks, sulfate minerals (including magnesium sulfate and jarosite) that constitute several tens of percent of the rock by weight, and hematite. Cross-stratification observed in rock outcrops indicates eolian and aqueous transport. Diagenetic features include hematite-rich concretions and crystal-mold vugs. We interpret the rocks to be a mixture of chemical and siliciclastic sediments with a complex diagenetic history. The environmental conditions that they record include episodic inundation by shallow surface water, evaporation, and desiccation. The geologic record at Meridiani Planum suggests that conditions were suitable for biological activity for a period of time in martian history.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1709-1714
Number of pages	6
Journal	Science
Volume	306
Issue number	5702
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1104559
State	Published - Dec 3 2004

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Squyres, S. W., Grotzinger, J. P., Arvidson, R. E., Bell, J., Calvin, W., Christensen, P., Clark, B. C., Crisp, J. A., Farrand, W. H., Herkenhoff, K. E., Johnson, J. R., Klingelhöfer, G., Knoll, A. H., McLennan, S. M., McSween, H. Y., Morris, R. V., Rice, J. W., Rieder, R., & Soderblom, L. A. (2004). In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars. Science, 306(5702), 1709-1714. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1104559

Squyres, SW, Grotzinger, JP, Arvidson, RE, Bell, J, Calvin, W, Christensen, P, Clark, BC, Crisp, JA, Farrand, WH, Herkenhoff, KE, Johnson, JR, Klingelhöfer, G, Knoll, AH, McLennan, SM, McSween, HY, Morris, RV, Rice, JW, Rieder, R & Soderblom, LA 2004, 'In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars', Science, vol. 306, no. 5702, pp. 1709-1714. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1104559

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title = "In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars",

abstract = "Sedimentary rocks at Eagle crater in Meridiani Planum are composed of fine-grained siliciclastic materials derived from weathering of basaltic rocks, sulfate minerals (including magnesium sulfate and jarosite) that constitute several tens of percent of the rock by weight, and hematite. Cross-stratification observed in rock outcrops indicates eolian and aqueous transport. Diagenetic features include hematite-rich concretions and crystal-mold vugs. We interpret the rocks to be a mixture of chemical and siliciclastic sediments with a complex diagenetic history. The environmental conditions that they record include episodic inundation by shallow surface water, evaporation, and desiccation. The geologic record at Meridiani Planum suggests that conditions were suitable for biological activity for a period of time in martian history.",

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AU - Squyres, S. W.

AU - Grotzinger, J. P.

AU - Arvidson, R. E.

AU - Bell, James

AU - Calvin, W.

AU - Christensen, Philip

AU - Clark, B. C.

AU - Crisp, J. A.

AU - Farrand, W. H.

AU - Herkenhoff, K. E.

AU - Johnson, J. R.

AU - Klingelhöfer, G.

AU - Knoll, A. H.

AU - McLennan, S. M.

AU - McSween, H. Y.

AU - Morris, R. V.

AU - Rice, J. W.

AU - Rieder, R.

AU - Soderblom, L. A.

PY - 2004/12/3

Y1 - 2004/12/3

N2 - Sedimentary rocks at Eagle crater in Meridiani Planum are composed of fine-grained siliciclastic materials derived from weathering of basaltic rocks, sulfate minerals (including magnesium sulfate and jarosite) that constitute several tens of percent of the rock by weight, and hematite. Cross-stratification observed in rock outcrops indicates eolian and aqueous transport. Diagenetic features include hematite-rich concretions and crystal-mold vugs. We interpret the rocks to be a mixture of chemical and siliciclastic sediments with a complex diagenetic history. The environmental conditions that they record include episodic inundation by shallow surface water, evaporation, and desiccation. The geologic record at Meridiani Planum suggests that conditions were suitable for biological activity for a period of time in martian history.

AB - Sedimentary rocks at Eagle crater in Meridiani Planum are composed of fine-grained siliciclastic materials derived from weathering of basaltic rocks, sulfate minerals (including magnesium sulfate and jarosite) that constitute several tens of percent of the rock by weight, and hematite. Cross-stratification observed in rock outcrops indicates eolian and aqueous transport. Diagenetic features include hematite-rich concretions and crystal-mold vugs. We interpret the rocks to be a mixture of chemical and siliciclastic sediments with a complex diagenetic history. The environmental conditions that they record include episodic inundation by shallow surface water, evaporation, and desiccation. The geologic record at Meridiani Planum suggests that conditions were suitable for biological activity for a period of time in martian history.

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In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars

Abstract

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