Columbus Crater
Columbus Crater is a 119 km wide crater, located at 29.8° south latitude and 166.1° west longitude in the Memnonia quadrangle, and was named after Christopher Columbus[1] Since sulfates and clay minerals have been discovered within Columbus Crater it is believed that a lake once existed in the crater. These minerals need water to form.[2][3] These were found using an orbiting near-infrared spectrometer. Spectrometers reveal the types of minerals present based on the wavelengths of light they absorb. These minerals would appear if a large lake had slowly evaporated.[4] [5]
Chemicals called polyhydrated sulfates were detected on the crater walls and monohydrated sulfates on the floor. This is what would happen if evaporation or freezing had lowered the lake level and yielded a concentrated brine. The monohydrated sulfates would be deposited when they became more concentrated when the lake waters had greatly went down. Both of these substances require water for their formation. The polyhydrated sulfates form a ring near the top of the crater walls--like a bathtub ring.[6] [7]
Because some layers contain gypsum, a sulfate which forms in relatively fresh water, it is thought that life could have formed in the crater.[8]
Other minerals
In the layers, or strata, of Columbus Crater, the CRISM instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found kaolinite, hydrated sulfates including alunite and possibly Jarosite.[9] Further study concluded that gypsum, polyhydrated and monohydrated Mg/Fe-sulfates were common and small deposits of montmorillonite, Fe/Mg-phyllosilicates, and crystalline ferric oxide or hydroxide were also found. Thermal emission spectra hint that some minerals were present in the tens of percent range.[10] [11]
Close-up of Columbus Crater, as seen by HiRISE
See also
- Curiosity
- High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)
- Holden Crater
- Gale Crater
- Jezero Crater
- Lakes on Mars
- Memnonia quadrangle
- Ritchey Crater
References
- ↑ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1274
- ↑ http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia15099.html#.VWyD-c9VhBc
- ↑ Wray, J., R. Milliken, C. Dundas, G. Swayze, J. Andrews-Hanna, A. Baldridge, M. Chojnacki, J. Bishop, B. Ehlmann, S. Murchie, R. Clark, F. Seelos, L. Tornabene, and S. Squyres. 2011. Columbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets DOI: 10.1029/2010JE003694
- ↑ Cabrol, N. and E. Grin (eds.). 2010. Lakes on Mars. Elsevier.NY.
- ↑ Wray, J. et al. 2009. Columbus Crater and other possible plaelakes in Terra Sirenum, Mars. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 40: 1896.
- ↑ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/34916/1/2010JE003694.pdf
- ↑ Wray, J. et al. 2011. Columbus crater and other possible groundwater‐fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 116, E01001
- ↑ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091125-mars-crater-lake-michigan-water_2.html
- ↑ Murchie, S. et al. 2009. A synthesis of Martian aqueous mineralogy after 1 Mars year of observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Journal of Geophysical Research: 114.
- ↑ https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70035986
- ↑ Wray, J., R. Milliken, C. Dundas, G. Swayze, J. Andrews-Hanna, A. Baldridge, M. Chojnacki, J. Bishop, B. Ehlmann, S. Murchie, R. Clark, F. Seelos, L. Tornabene, and S. Squyres. 2011. Columbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets DOI: 10.1029/2010JE003694
