title: Elemental geochemistry of sedimentary rocks at Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars.
abstract: Sedimentary rocks examined by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay, Mars, were derived from sources that evolved from an approximately average martian crustal composition to one influenced by alkaline basalts. No evidence of chemical weathering is preserved, indicating arid, possibly cold, paleoclimates and rapid erosion and deposition. The absence of predicted geochemical variations indicates that magnetite and phyllosilicates formed by diagenesis under low-temperature, circumneutral pH, rock-dominated aqueous conditions. Analyses of diagenetic features (including concretions, raised ridges, and fractures) at high spatial resolution indicate that they are composed of iron- and halogen-rich components, magnesium-iron-chlorine-rich components, and hydrated calcium sulfates, respectively. Composition of a cross-cutting dike-like feature is consistent with sedimentary intrusion. The geochemistry of these sedimentary rocks provides further evidence for diverse depositional and diagenetic sedimentary environments during the early history of Mars.
authors: Department of Geosciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: McLennan
authors: R B
authors: RB
authors: Anderson
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Bell
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authors: Bridges
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authors: Cousin
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authors: Gellert
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authors: Herkenhoff
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authors: Hurowitz
authors: P L
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authors: King
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authors: S
authors: Le Mouélic
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Leshin
authors: R
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authors: Léveillé
authors: K W
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authors: Lewis
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authors: Mangold
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authors: Morris
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authors: Nachon
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authors: Newsom
authors: A M
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authors: Ollila
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authors: Perrett
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Rice
authors: M E
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authors: Schmidt
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authors: Schwenzer
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Stack
authors: E M
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authors: Stolper
authors: D Y
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authors: Sumner
authors: A H
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authors: Treiman
authors: S
authors: S
authors: VanBommel
authors: D T
authors: DT
authors: Vaniman
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authors: Vasavada
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authors: Wiens
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authors: Yingst
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002713:Chlorine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D018559:Exobiology; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment / Q000737:chemistry*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006219:Halogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D018535:Mars; D017640:Silicates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006219:Halogens; D017640:Silicates; D014867:Water; D002713:Chlorine; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide