Contact between layered sulfate & clay bearing strata and fluvial channel at Gale craterLatitude/longitude:4°46'26" S, 137°23'42" ERationale:Alteration of sulfates in bedrock associated with ancient fluvial activity

Morphology and Mineralogy: Location is the contact between older layered rocks and younger fluvial channel. Sulfates & clays in layered rock

What will the rover specifically do here?Use the contact to test whether the sulfates were: 1) deposited with the layered rock; 2) due to alteration during the episode of fluvial activity; or 3) from a later weathering episode.

(This image was taken from the sample landing site PowerPoint presentation because is overlaps the proposed target.)

500 m

Target of interest (see next slide)

PSP_009149_1750

Layered rocks that should have variable composition, possibly altered by fluvial activity.

This target overlaps the previously proposed Gale 8 target in location, but articulates a more specific hypothesis at a more specific site.

(This image was taken from the sample landing site PowerPoint presentation because it overlaps the proposed target.)

Lower Mound - Fluvial Sediment Contact(oblique view of PSP_009149_1750 draped on HiRISE DTM; north arrow in upper right corner)

20 m

Fluvial Sediment

Lower Mound Strata

Contact

Fluvial Breccia

Target of interest

From R. Milliken 4th MSL workshop presentation

(These image were taken from the sample landing site PowerPoint presentation because they overlap the proposed target.)