1. Mawrth Candidate Landing Site (Dawn Sumner, July 27, 2010)
Site Context
Mineral Stratigraphy
Models for Clay Mineral Accumulation
Implications for Biosignature Formation & Preservation

2. Mawrth Site is in Far Western Arabia Terra
Approximate outline of “Arabia Terra” is shown. Interpretation of exact “boundaries” may vary depending on who you ask.

3. Oyama Crater & Mawrth Vallis

4. Landing
Ellipse
Oyama
Crater

5. Michalski et al. 2010

6. Loizeau et al. 2010 Blue ~ Al-clay mineral detections
Orange ~ Fe, Mg-clay mineral detections
Loizeau et al. 2010

7. Models for Clay Minerals (not mutually exclusive)
Alteration of Bedrock (igneous or other)
“Soils”, hydrothermal, or water table
Alteration as Rock Accumulated
Many “soils”
Alteration of hydrous pyroclasitcs
Alteration associated with impacts
Sedimentary Accumulation of Clay Minerals
Fluvial, lacustrine, unknown

8. Bedrock Alteration Michalski & Noe Dobrea, 2007
Issues: Variable Alteration/Mineralogy
Depth of Alteration
Extent of Chemical Leaching
Origin of Bedrock

9. Alteration During Accumulation
Issues: Consistency of Mineral Stratigraphy
Variations in Mineralogy with Depth
Pervasiveness of Alteration
Sumner, in prep.

10. (no published images of models to my knowledge)
Deposition of Clays
Issues: No Reported Sedimentary Geometries
No Basin Margins to Confine Flow
Only Rare Channels, Post Deposition of Light Toned Units
Compositionally Defined Layers “Drape” Topography
(no published images of models to my knowledge)

11. Biosignature Formation and Preservation (Summons et al., in review)