Mineralogical and morphological study of the chaotic terrains of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights into their geologic history

Following the OMEGA/Mars Express discovery of sulfates in the Valles Marineris area, a wide range of data, including the recent CRISM (The Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars) observations, has been used to refine these detections. The present study focuses on three chasmata located at the border between the eastern end of Valles Marineris and at the onset of the chaotic terrains of Margaritifer Terra. Ganges Chasma, Capri Chasma and Juventae Chasma all share common features with the chaotic terrains, such as collapse plateaus and chaotic mounds, suggesting a aqueous history, but they are also affected by the east-west extensive tectonics of Valles Marineris and are thus considered part of the rift system. OMEGA and CRISM surveys show that, similarly to the rest of Valles Marineris, these three chasmata are filled with thick, massive sulfate-rich interior layered deposits (ILDs). A succession of a Mg monohydrated sulfate rich unit (characterized by diagnostic absorptions at 2.13 and 2.4 μm) capped by a polyhydrated sulfate rich unit (1.9 and 2.4 μm absorptions) is generally observed (Bishop et al., 2009; Flahaut et al., 2010). However, a number of other spectral features are noted, as additional absorptions between 2.2 and 2.3 μm which could indicate the presence of hydrated silicates (clays or opaline silica) or additional ferric sulfates (e.g., Flahaut et al., 2010). More polyhydrated sulfates might be present as thin layers down in the ILD section in both Capri and Ganges Chasmata. The ILDs are distributed as mesas that might have been more extensive in the past, and that are overlapping the chaotic floor. CRISM data show that Fe/Mg-bearing phyllosilicates are detected in the upper part of the chaotic knobs that form the floor, thanks to their sharp 1.9 and 2.3 μm spectral features. The mounds are surrounded by abundant dark sands forming ergs. CRISM spectra show a wide 1 μm absorption feature, associated to weaker 2 μm absorptions. This suggests that this sand is enriched in olivine, mixed with a high calcium pyroxene. It was previously suggested that this sand could potentially derive from the canyon walls (Chojnacki et al., 2012). However, it is not as abundant in other chasmata of Valles Marineris, suggesting a chaos-related origin. We argue that its source could be the extensive olivine-rich layer that is present in Margaritifer Terra and is exposed on the floor of at least eastern Capri and Ganges Chasmata (Flahaut et al., 2012). The units bearing these different signatures have different ages, allowing us to propose a reconstruction of part of the history of Valles Marineris. This history implies multiple water discharge episodes, during but also after the chaos emplacement, in the Hesperian and Amazonian periods. The water-rich history of this area, coupled with the unique geological record of Valles Marineris make these three chasmata prime targets for future Mars exploration.