Imperial College London
Professor Sanjeev Gupta

ProfessorSanjeevGupta

Faculty of Engineering, Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Professor of Earth Science
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 6527s.gupta

 
 
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Location

 

Royal School of MinesSouth Kensington Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Edgar:2017:10.1111/sed.12370,
author = {Edgar, L and Gupta, S and Rubin, DM and Lewis, KW and Kocurek, GA and Anderson, RB and Bell, JF and Dromart, G and Edgett, KS and Grotzinger, JP and Hardgrove, C and Kah, LC and Leveille, R and Malin, MC and Mangold, N and Milliken, RE and Minitti, M and Palucis, M and Rice, M and Rowland, SK and Schieber, J and Stack, KM and Summer, DY and Wiens, RC and Williams, RME and Williams, AJ},
doi = {10.1111/sed.12370},
journal = {Sedimentology},
pages = {96--122},
title = {Shaler: in situ analysis of a fluvial sedimentary deposit on Mars},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sed.12370},
volume = {65},
year = {2017}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - This paper characterises the detailed sedimentology of a fluvial sandbody on Mars for the first time, and interprets its depositional processes and  palaeoenvironmental setting. Despite numerous orbital observations of fluvial landforms on the surface of Mars, ground-based characterisation of the sedimentology of such fluvial deposits has not previously been possible. Results from NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover provide an opportunity to reconstruct at fine scale the sedimentary architecture and palaeomorphology of a fluvial environment on Mars. This work describes the grain size, texture, and sedimentary facies of the Shaler outcrop, reconstructs the bedding architecture, and analyses cross-stratification to determine palaeocurrents. On the basis of bedset geometry and inclination, grain-size distribution, and bedform migration direction, this study concludes that the Shaler outcrop likely records the accretion of a fluvial barform. The majority of the outcrop consists of large-scale trough cross-bedding of coarse sand and granules. Palaeocurrent analyses and bedform reconstruction indicate that the beds were deposited by bedforms that migrated towards the northeast, across the surface of a bar that migrated southeast. Stacked cosets of dune cross-bedding  suggest aggradation of multiple bedforms, which provides evidence for short periods of sustained flow during Shaler deposition. However, local evidence for aeolian reworking and the presence of potential desiccation cracks within the outcrop suggests that fluvial deposition may have been intermittent. The uppermost strata at Shaler are distinct in  terms of texture and chemistry, and are inferred to record deposition from a different  sediment dispersal system with a contrasting provenance. The outcrop as a whole is a testament to the availability of liquid water on the surface of Mars in its early history.
AU  - Edgar,L
AU  - Gupta,S
AU  - Rubin,DM
AU  - Lewis,KW
AU  - Kocurek,GA
AU  - Anderson,RB
AU  - Bell,JF
AU  - Dromart,G
AU  - Edgett,KS
AU  - Grotzinger,JP
AU  - Hardgrove,C
AU  - Kah,LC
AU  - Leveille,R
AU  - Malin,MC
AU  - Mangold,N
AU  - Milliken,RE
AU  - Minitti,M
AU  - Palucis,M
AU  - Rice,M
AU  - Rowland,SK
AU  - Schieber,J
AU  - Stack,KM
AU  - Summer,DY
AU  - Wiens,RC
AU  - Williams,RME
AU  - Williams,AJ
DO  - 10.1111/sed.12370
EP  - 122
PY  - 2017///
SN  - 1365-3091
SP  - 96
TI  - Shaler: in situ analysis of a fluvial sedimentary deposit on Mars
T2  - Sedimentology
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sed.12370
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/45021
VL  - 65
ER  -
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