Exploration of Victoria Crater by the Mars Rover Opportunity
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 11:41 authored by Squyres, SW, Knoll, AH, Arvidson, RE, Ashley, JW, Bell III, JF, Calvin, WM, Christensen, PR, Clark, BC, Cohen, BA, de Souza Jr, PA, Edgar, L, Farrand, WH, Fleisher, I, Gellert, R, Golombek, MP, Grant, J, Grotzinger, J, Hayes, A, Herkenhoff, KE, Johnson, JR, Jolliff, B, Klingelhofer, G, Knudson, A, Li, R, McCoy, TJ, McLennan, SM, Ming, DW, Mittlefehldt, DW, Morris, RV, Rice, JW, Schroder, C, Sullivan, RJ, Yen, A, Yingst, RAThe Mars rover Opportunity has explored Victoria crater, a ~750-meter eroded impact crater formed in sulfate-rich sedimentary rocks. Impact-related stratigraphy is preserved in the crater walls, and meteoritic debris is present near the crater rim. The size of hematite-rich concretions decreases up-section, documenting variation in the intensity of groundwater processes. Layering in the crater walls preserves evidence of ancient wind-blown dunes. Compositional variations with depth mimic those ~6 kilometers to the north and demonstrate that water-induced alteration at Meridiani Planum was regional in scope.
History
Publication title
ScienceVolume
324Issue
5930Pagination
1058-1061ISSN
0036-8075Department/School
School of Information and Communication TechnologyPublisher
Amer Assoc Advancement SciencePlace of publication
1200 New York Ave, Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20005Rights statement
Copyright 2009 American Association for the Advancement of ScienceRepository Status
- Restricted
