Architecture of Fluvial and Deltaic Deposits Exposed Along the Eastern Edge of the Western Fan of Jezero Crater, Mars
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JGR Planets - 2024 - Mangold - Architecture of Fluvial and Deltaic Deposits Exposed Along the Eastern Edge of the Western.pdf
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Published version
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Author(s)
Mangold, N
Caravaca, G
Gupta, S
Williams, RME
Dromart, G
Gasnault, O
Le Mouélic, S
Paar, G
Bell, J
Beyssac, O
Date Issued
March 13, 2024
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Citation
Mangold, N., Caravaca, G., Gupta, S., Williams, R. M. E., Dromart, G., Gasnault, O., et al. (2024). Architecture of fluvial and deltaic deposits exposed along the eastern edge of the western fan of Jezero crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 129, e2023JE008204.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Early observations from the Perseverance rover suggested a deltaic origin for the western fan of
Jezero crater only from images of the Kodiak butte. Here, we use images from the SuperCam Remote Micro‐
Imager and the Mastcam‐Z camera to analyze the western fan front along the rover traverse, and further assess
its depositional origin. Outcrops in the middle to lower half of the hillslopes comprise planar and inclined beds
of sandstone that are interpreted as foresets of deltaic deposits. Foresets are locally structured in ∼20–25 m
thick, ∼80–100 m long, antiformal structures interpreted as deltaic mouth bars. Above these foresets,
interbedded sandstones and boulder conglomerates are interpreted as fluvial topset beds. One well‐preserved
lens of boulder conglomerate displays rounded clasts within well‐sorted sediment deposited in overall fining
upward beds. We interpret these deposits as resulting from lateral accretion within fluvial channels. Estimations
of peak discharge rates give a range between ∼100 and ∼500 m3 s
− 1
. By contrast, boulder conglomerates
exposed in the uppermost part of hillslopes are poorly sorted and truncate the underlying beds. The presence of
these boulder deposits suggests that intense sediment‐laden flood episodes occurred after the deltaic foreset and
topset beds were deposited, although the origin, timing, and relationship of these boulder deposits to the ancient
lake that once filled Jezero crater remains undetermined. Overall, these observations confirm the deltaic nature
of the fan front, and suggest a highly variable fluvial input.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
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DOI of Published Version
10.1029/2023je008204
