A widespread olivine-rich ash deposit on Mars

Abstract

Research Article| May 22, 2019 A widespread olivine-rich ash deposit on Mars Christopher H. Kremer; Christopher H. Kremer 1Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 324 Brook Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John F. Mustard; John F. Mustard 1Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 324 Brook Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michael S. Bramble Michael S. Bramble 1Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 324 Brook Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Christopher H. Kremer 1Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 324 Brook Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA John F. Mustard 1Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 324 Brook Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA Michael S. Bramble 1Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 324 Brook Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 06 Sep 2018 Revision Received: 12 Apr 2019 Accepted: 14 Apr 2019 First Online: 22 May 2019 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 © 2019 Geological Society of America Geology (2019) 47 (7): 677–681. https://doi.org/10.1130/G45563.1 Article history Received: 06 Sep 2018 Revision Received: 12 Apr 2019 Accepted: 14 Apr 2019 First Online: 22 May 2019 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Christopher H. Kremer, John F. Mustard, Michael S. Bramble; A widespread olivine-rich ash deposit on Mars. Geology 2019;; 47 (7): 677–681. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G45563.1 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 The origins of olivine-rich rocks on Mars remain only partially constrained, with hypothesized deposition as lava flows, impact products, aeolian sand, and pyroclastic materials. These rock units' uncertain origins obscure their genetic relationships with each other and the contexts of their aqueous alteration. We synthesize geomorphic mapping and geomorphic and stratigraphic measurements with previous spectroscopic analyses to constrain the origin of the circum–Isidis Planitia olivine-rich unit, one of Mars's most widespread and mineralogically diverse olivine-rich rocks. We find that the unit most likely formed as an ash-fall deposit, with a probable origin related to volcanism in the greater Syrtis Major–Isidis Planitia region. This work corroborates hypotheses that some extensive outcrops of ancient bedrock are clastic and that a planet-wide transition from dominantly explosive to effusive volcanism may have occurred in the Hesperian. Our findings also highlight the likely diverse origins of olivine-rich martian rocks and provide key geologic context for the aqueous alteration of the unit and underlying ancient crust. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.