A hematite-bearing layer in Gale Crater, Mars: Mapping and implications for past aqueous conditions

Research Article| October 01, 2013 A hematite-bearing layer in Gale Crater, Mars: Mapping and implications for past aqueous conditions A.A. Fraeman; A.A. Fraeman 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R.E. Arvidson; R.E. Arvidson 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.G. Catalano; J.G. Catalano 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.P. Grotzinger; J.P. Grotzinger 2Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R.V. Morris; R.V. Morris 3NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S.L. Murchie; S.L. Murchie 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K.M. Stack; K.M. Stack 2Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D.C. Humm; D.C. Humm 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.A. McGovern; J.A. McGovern 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar F.P. Seelos; F.P. Seelos 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K.D. Seelos; K.D. Seelos 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C.E. Viviano C.E. Viviano 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information A.A. Fraeman 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA R.E. Arvidson 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA J.G. Catalano 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA J.P. Grotzinger 2Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA R.V. Morris 3NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, USA S.L. Murchie 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA K.M. Stack 2Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA D.C. Humm 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA J.A. McGovern 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA F.P. Seelos 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA K.D. Seelos 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA C.E. Viviano 4Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Apr 2013 Revision Received: 19 Jun 2013 Accepted: 27 Jun 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2013 Geological Society of America Geology (2013) 41 (10): 1103–1106. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34613.1 Article history Received: 01 Apr 2013 Revision Received: 19 Jun 2013 Accepted: 27 Jun 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation A.A. Fraeman, R.E. Arvidson, J.G. Catalano, J.P. Grotzinger, R.V. Morris, S.L. Murchie, K.M. Stack, D.C. Humm, J.A. McGovern, F.P. Seelos, K.D. Seelos, C.E. Viviano; A hematite-bearing layer in Gale Crater, Mars: Mapping and implications for past aqueous conditions. Geology 2013;; 41 (10): 1103–1106. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34613.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Oversampled Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) visible and near-infrared hyperspectral data over Mount Sharp in Gale Crater, Mars, were used to generate spatially sharpened maps of the location of red crystalline hematite within the uppermost stratum of an ∼6.5-km-long ridge on the mound’s northern flank. Finely layered strata underlie the ridge to the north and have dips consistent with the nearby Mount Sharp sedimentary sequence. Fe-Mg smectites are exposed in a valley to the south of the ridge. Emplacement of the hematite is hypothesized to result either from exposure of anoxic Fe2+-rich groundwater to an oxidizing environment, leading to precipitation of hematite or its precursors, or from in-place weathering of precursor silicate materials under oxidizing conditions. These hypotheses and implications for habitability will be testable with in situ measurements by the Mars rover Curiosity when it reaches Mount Sharp. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.