Using Chemcam Derived Geochemistry to Identify the Paleonet Sediment Transport Direction and Source Region Characteristics of the Stimson Formation in Gale Crater, Mars

Abstract: he NASA Curiosity rover has encountered both ancient and modern dune deposits within Gale crater. The modern dunes are actively migrating across the surface within the Bagnold Dune field of which Curiosity conducted analysis campaigns at two different localities. Variations in mafic-felsic mineral abundances between these two sites have been related to the aeolian mineral sorting regime for basaltic environments identified on the Earth which become preferentially enriched in olivine relative …