Exploration of Victoria Crater by the Mars Rover Opportunity

Creators: Squyres, S. W.; Knoll, A. H.; Arvidson, R. E.; Ashley, J. W.; Bell, J. F., III; Calvin, W. M.; Christensen, P. R.; Clark, B. C.; Cohen, B. A.; de Souza, P. A., Jr.; Edgar, L.; Farrand, W. H.; Fleischer, I.; Gellert, R.; Golombek, M. P.; Grant, J.; Grotzinger, J.; Hayes, A.; Herkenhoff, K. E.; Johnson, J. R.; Jolliff, B.; Klingelhöfer, G.; Knudson, A.; Li, R.; McCoy, T. J.; McLennan, S. M.; Ming, D. W.; Mittlefehldt, D. W.; Morris, R. V.; Rice, J. W., Jr.; Schröder, C.; Sullivan, R. J.; Yen, A. S.; Yingst, R. A.

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Abstract

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.

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© 2009 American Association for the Advancement of Science. 29 December 2008; accepted 31 March 2009. This research was carried out for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with NASA.

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