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Layered sediments in Martian craters: Crommelin Crater, Mars

Images and caption contributed by Angelo Pio Rossi

Crommelin Crater, Mars

Image 1: Perspective view of Crommelin central bulge. The image is centered at about 350° E, 5° N. The image consists of a mosaic of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Context (CTX) images (P01_001401_1846_XI_04N010W, P02_002021_1848_XI_04N010W, P02_001876_1852_XI_05N010W, P06_003432_1852_XI_05N009W) draped over High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) Stereo-derived Digital Elevation Model obtained from Mars Express (MEX) orbits: 2108, 3253, 3264, 5091. The width of the scene is about 50 km. The perspective view is north-pointing (see image 3). Vertical exaggeration is 2x. [Full resolution version]

Although rocks of volcanic origin are the most common type on Mars, complex sedimentary sequences do occur, often with enormous thickness and lateral extent. Arabia Terra, in particular, hosts several large craters with extensive outcrops of sedimentary or sedimentary-like rocks (Malin and Edgett, 2000). The sedimentary rocks in this area are thought to be very old and some date back to the Noachian Era (from about 4.6 to about 3.7 billion years ago).

Image 1 is a perspective view of the 100 km diameter Crommelin Crater (~ 350° E, 5° N). The crater has one of the most spectacular exposures of layered rocks outside the Valles Marineris canyon system (Lucchitta, 1992). It is located in Arabia Terra, east of the chaotic terrains and outflow channels (Image 2). It is also relatively close to Meridiani Planum, where the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity landed.

Location map, Crommelin Crater

Image 2: Location map: Crommelin crater is located in Western Arabia Terra on Mars. The background is a color-coded shaded relief map obtained from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA). [Full resolution version]

Given its size, it is curious that there is no central peak in the otherwise pristine impact crater. Rather, the location is masked by an extensive cover of layered material, elliptical in shape, located both on the crater floor and especially on the central bulge. This bulge is about 50 km wide. The maximum exposed thickness of the layered deposits is about 1,500 meters. The stratigraphy of the deposits appears to be complex: most of the layers are sub-horizontal, with some local variations.

Extensive erosion affects these deposits, likely due to wind action as large-scale wind streaks are visible in the surrounding area (Image 3). The material(s) which constitutes the layered sequences appears to be more easily eroded than the typical plateau bedrock in the area and the Crommelin structure itself does not appear as degraded as the mound (Image 4).

Crommelin crater mosaic location

Image 3: Location of the CTX mosaic (between the 2 black solid lines) and indication of the viewpoint for the perspective in Image 1 (HRSC nadir band (panchromatic) mosaic from MEX orbits 2108, 3253, 3264, 5091). Layered rocks occupy both Crommelin and its neighbor crater just South of it. Crommelin Crater is about 100 km in diameter. [Full resolution version]

The origin of these deposits is still under discussion. They could be formed as water-laid sediments of various origin: e.g. lacustrine or spring-related. They could also be related, to some extent, to eolian deposition. Also, a non-sedimentary origin can not be excluded at this point. In addition, their age is difficult to constrain, as the amount of erosion makes the use of crater counting techniques difficult.

Further insight into the genesis of these sedimentary-looking deposits will be provided through instrument targeting exercises by current missions and perhaps even by future Lander/Rover missions.

Perspective view of Crommelin crater

Image 4: Perspective view of an elevation color-coded HRSC nadir mosaic (orbits 2108, 3253, 3264, 5091). The central Bulge is almost as high as the crater rim. North is towards the upper-left corner of the picture. Crommelin Crater is about 100 km in diameter. [Full resolution version]

Further Reading:

Arvidson, R. E., et al. (2006), Nature and origin of the hematite-bearing plains of Terra Meridiani based on analyses of orbital and Mars Exploration rover data sets, J. Geoph. Res., E, Planets, 111(12), 1-19. [Abstract]

Dohm, J. M., et al. (2007), Possible ancient giant basin and related water enrichment in the Arabia Terra province, Mars, Icarus, 190, 74-92. [Abstract]

Edgett, K. S., and M. C. Malin (2002), Martian sedimentary rock stratigraphy: Outcrops and interbedded craters of northwest Sinus Meridiani and southwest Arabia Terra, Geophysical Research Letters, 29, 32-31. [Abstract]

Gendrin, A., et al. (2005), Sulfates in Martian Layered Terrains: The OMEGA/Mars Express View, Science, 307(5715), 1587-1591. [Abstract]

Hynek, B. M. (2004), Implications for hydrologic processes on Mars from extensive bedrock outcrops throughout Terra Meridiani, Nature, 431, 156-159. [Abstract]

Lewis, K.W., O. Aharonson, J.P. Grotzinger, R.L. Kirk, A.S. McEwen, T. Suer (2008), Quasi-Periodic Bedding in the Sedimentary Rock Record of Mars, Science 322, 1532-1535. [Abstract]

Lucchitta, B. K., et al. (1992), The canyon system on Mars, in Mars, edited by H. Kiefer et al., The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp. 453-492.

Malin, M. C., and K. S. Edgett (2000), Sedimentary Rocks of Early Mars, Science, 290(5498), 1927-1937. [Abstract]

Phillips, R. J., et al. (2001), Ancient geodynamics and global-scale hydrology on Mars, Science, 291(5513), 2587-2591. [Abstract]

Rossi, A. P., et al. (2008), Large-scale spring deposits on Mars?, J. Geophys. Res., 113, E08016 doi: 10.1029/2007JE003062, [Abstract]

Data sources:

Image credits:

Angelo Pio Rossi, data processed with USGS ISIS3 & DLR-VICAR, data from PDS/PSA/HRSC Team/A. Dumke/FU Berlin

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