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Exploration of Victoria crater by the mars rover opportunity

January 1, 2009

The Mars rover Opportunity has explored Victoria crater, a ???750-meter eroded impact crater formed in sulfate-rich sedimentary rocks. Impact-related stratigraphy is preserved in the crater walls, and meteoritic debris is present near the crater rim. The size of hematite-rich concretions decreases up-section, documenting variation in the intensity of groundwater processes. Layering in the crater walls preserves evidence of ancient wind-blown dunes. Compositional variations with depth mimic those ???6 kilometers to the north and demonstrate that water-induced alteration at Meridiani Planum was regional in scope.

Publication Year 2009
Title Exploration of Victoria crater by the mars rover opportunity
DOI 10.1126/science.1170355
Authors S. W. Squyres, A.H. Knoll, R. E. Arvidson, James W. Ashley, J.F. Bell, W. M. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, B. A. Cohen, P.A. De Souza, L. Edgar, W. H. Farrand, I. Fleischer, Ralf Gellert, M.P. Golombek, J. Grant, J. Grotzinger, A. Hayes, K. E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, B. Jolliff, G. Klingelhofer, A. Knudson, R. Li, T.J. McCoy, S. M. McLennan, D. W. Ming, D. W. Mittlefehldt, R.V. Morris, J. W. Rice, C. Schroder, R.J. Sullivan, A. Yen, R.A. Yingst
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Science
Index ID 70035006
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse