COMPOSITE MINERALOGIC STRATIGRAPHY OF MELAS CHASMA, MARS

Analysis of data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) has shown multiple types of hydrated minerals on the surface of Mars. Previous research of the minerals deposited in Valles Marineris on Mars has also suggested that there might have been surface water activity on Mars; however, the stratigraphic relationships of these units across the system is still unknown. Here, we VNIR spectra from CRISM, and imagery from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HIRISE) and Context Camera (CTX) from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) to explore the mineralogy and morphology of large layered deposits in the Melas Chasma region of Valles Marineris. This research aims to map all the hydrated mineral deposits observed on the chasma floor of Melas Chasma, to construct a detailed mineral distribution map, a detailed stratigraphy, and a comparison with other chasmata to seek to understand large-scale patterns.