The Geological History of Valles Marineris, Mars

火星水手谷的地质历史

• 批准号: 46210-2013
• 负责人: Fueten, Frank
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: Brock University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=633668
• 关键词: Geological; History; Valles; Marineris; Mars

Mars exhibits the most Earth-like conditions of all planets within our solar system and is affected by many of the same geological processes found on Earth. Volcanism, wind erosion, water-driven processes and glaciers have all played a role in shaping the surface of Mars. This similarity has inspired mankind's imagination for a long time and understanding the geological history of Mars has been an important goal. Because of the lack of plate tectonics, the Martian surface preserves an earlier stage of planetary evolution than we can easily access on Earth. The primary goal of the current NASA Curiosity rover mission within the ~3.6 billion year old Gale crater is to investigate whether Mars had an environment able to support life by investigating layered deposits in that crater. Valles Marineris, a 4000 km long, 400 km wide and up to 10 km deep system of linked chasms, which has been compared to large rift valleys on Earth. The chasms are partially filled with layered deposits up to 8 km thick that are similar to those in Gale Crater. In this project we investigate how this chasm system formed, how each chasm was filled with layered deposits and by what mechanism they were subsequently eroded. Understanding the nature of the mechanism for filling and erosion addresses important environmental factors such as the availability of water or ice. Our technique is to combine digital imagery with digital terrain models with resolutions as low as 1 m/pixel. This allows us to measure small features in 3D. For investigation of layered deposits this information will be supplemented by mineralogical observations from existing orbiting hyperspectral sensors. We will also be able to use the results of the chemical analyses and grain scale observations obtained by Curiosity on layered deposits within Gale and apply them to the larger scale observations we are able to make in Valles Marineris. This research will result in a better understanding of the early geological history and of the environmental conditions of Mars. This in turn enhances our understanding of the early evolution of terrestrial planets.

火星展示了太阳系内所有行星中最类似地球的条件，并受到许多与地球上发现的相同地质过程的影响。火山作用、风蚀、水驱动的过程和冰川都在塑造火星表面方面发挥了作用。这种相似性长期以来激发了人类的想象力，了解火星的地质历史一直是一个重要的目标。由于缺乏板块构造，火星表面保存了比我们在地球上很容易到达的行星演化的早期阶段。目前NASA好奇号月球车在大约36亿年前的盖尔陨石坑内执行任务的主要目标是通过调查该陨石坑中的分层沉积物来调查火星是否有能够支持生命的环境。水手谷，一个长4000公里，宽400公里，深达10公里的相连的裂谷系统，被比作地球上的大裂谷。裂缝部分被厚达8公里的层状沉积物填满，类似于盖尔陨石坑中的沉积物。在这个项目中，我们研究了这个裂隙系统是如何形成的，每个裂隙是如何被层状沉积物填充的，以及它们随后被什么机制侵蚀。了解充填和侵蚀机制的性质涉及重要的环境因素，如水或冰的可获得性。我们的技术是将数字图像与分辨率低至1米/像素的数字地形模型相结合。这使我们能够在3D中测量小特征。对于层状矿床的调查，现有轨道高光谱传感器的矿物学观测将补充这一信息。我们还将能够使用好奇号对大风中的层状沉积物进行的化学分析和粒度观测的结果，并将它们应用于我们能够在水手谷进行的更大规模的观测。这项研究将有助于更好地了解火星的早期地质历史和环境条件。这反过来又加强了我们对类地行星早期演化的理解。