@article{ee743c9c34eb45e4b68c400c38330f74,
title = "The Chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and Role of Diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as Observed by the ChemCam Instrument",
abstract = "Geochemical results are presented from Curiosity's exploration of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), in addition to the full chemostratigraphy of the predominantly lacustrine mudstone Murray formation up to and including VRR. VRR is a prominent ridge flanking Aeolis Mons (informally Mt. Sharp), the central mound in Gale crater, Mars, and was a key area of interest for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. ChemCam data show that VRR is overall geochemically similar to lower-lying members of the Murray formation, even though the top of VRR shows a strong hematite spectral signature as observed from orbit. Although overall geochemically similar, VRR is characterized by a prominent decrease in Li abundance and Chemical Index of Alteration across the ridge. This decrease follows the morphology of the ridge rather than elevation and is inferred to reflect a nondepositionally controlled decrease in clay mineral abundance in VRR rocks. Additionally, a notable enrichment in Mn above baseline levels is observed on VRR. While not supporting a single model, the results suggest that VRR rocks were likely affected by multiple episodes of postdepositional groundwater interactions that made them more erosionally resistant than surrounding Murray rocks, thus resulting in the modern-day ridge after subsequent erosion.",
keywords = "ChemCam, Gale crater, Mars, Mars Science Laboratory, Vera Rubin ridge, chemostratigraphy",
author = "J. Frydenvang and N. Mangold and Wiens, {R. C.} and Fraeman, {A. A.} and Edgar, {L. A.} and Fedo, {C. M.} and J. L'Haridon and Bedford, {C. C.} and S. Gupta and Grotzinger, {J. P.} and Bridges, {J. C.} and Clark, {B. C.} and Rampe, {E. B.} and O. Gasnault and S. Maurice and Gasda, {P. J.} and Lanza, {N. L.} and Olilla, {A. M.} and Meslin, {P. Y.} and V. Payr{\'e} and F. Calef and M. Salvatore and House, {C. H.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the NASA MSL Mission—operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology—and the NASA Mars Exploration Program. We acknowledge the support of the MSL engineering and operations staff. JF acknowledges the support of the Carlsberg Foundation. NM, JLH, OG, SM, and PYM acknowledge the support of CNES for their work on MSL ChemCam. CCB was funded through the STFC doctoral training grant to the OU. A portion of this research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Funding Information: This work was supported by the NASA MSL Mission?operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology?and the NASA Mars Exploration Program. We acknowledge the support of the MSL engineering and operations staff. JF acknowledges the support of the Carlsberg Foundation. NM, JLH, OG, SM, and PYM acknowledge the support of CNES for their work on MSL ChemCam. CCB was funded through the STFC doctoral training grant to the OU. A portion of this research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.",
year = "2020",
month = sep,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1029/2019JE006320",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "125",
journal = "Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets",
issn = "2169-9097",
number = "9",
}