Orbital Observations Suggest Decoupled Olivine and Carbonate Enrichments in Jezero Crater.

Autor: Ye, Cheng, Edwards, Christopher S., Salvatore, Mark R., Rogers, A. Deanne, Glotch, Timothy D.
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Zdroj: Geophysical Research Letters; 8/16/2024, Vol. 51 Issue 15, p1-10, 10p
Abstrakt: It has been hypothesized that the olivine‐ and carbonate‐bearing units within Jezero crater are part of the broader olivine‐carbonate rock unit found in the Nili Fossae region. Further, it is commonly proposed that olivine and carbonate are closely associated with each other in Jezero crater based on visible/near‐infrared spectral data. In this work, we investigate the olivine‐ and carbonate‐rich units in Jezero crater using spectral, thermophysical, and morphological analyses to determine the relationship between olivine‐ and carbonate‐rich units. Thermal infrared spectral data indicate largely weak to absent olivine signatures in the marginal carbonates. Our analyses suggest a decoupled relationship between olivine and carbonate in Jezero. The distinct appearances of olivine and carbonate in Jezero crater compared to the regional olivine‐carbonate rocks in Nili Fossae may imply unique formation mechanisms for olivine and carbonate in Jezero or variable levels of olivine alteration across the broader region. Plain Language Summary: Previous studies have suggested that the olivine‐ and carbonate‐rich units in Jezero crater are part of a broader group of similar rocks in the Nili Fossae area. Olivine and carbonate are usually found together in Jezero based on visible/near‐infrared spectral data. In this study, we explore the areas with olivine and carbonate on the Jezero crater floor using various analyses to understand how they are related. Our findings from thermal infrared data suggest that there is generally little to no olivine spectral signatures in the marginal carbonates. Our research indicates that olivine and carbonate in Jezero crater are likely not closely coupled, and they might have formed differently compared to the olivine‐carbonate rocks in the larger Nili Fossae region or represent a certain alteration level of the regional olivine‐carbonate rocks. Key Points: We study the spectral and thermophysical properties of olivine‐ and carbonate‐bearing units in Jezero CraterOlivine and carbonate spectral signatures are decoupled and spatially distinct from each other in Jezero CraterThis might indicate distinct origins or diverse olivine alteration degrees over the Nili Fossae region [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index
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