Feldspathic Cumulate Samples and Plutonic Rocks in Gale Crater: Comparisons to Martian Meteorites

Abstract

The Curiosity Rover of Mars Science Laboratory has identified igneous float rocks in Gale Crater which offer new insights about the differentiation of the martian lithosphere. Here we describe likely origins for some unique Gale plutonic and cumulate rocks and compare to the martian meteorites. At the Ireson Hill locality around sol 1606 a group of float rocks with resistant, dreikanter morphologies were identified which include igneous textures, notably the 10 cm Pogy sample. On sol 2016 of the MSL mission, a group of float rocks were studied in detail, including Askival, which is a light toned rock igneous rock similar to Peacock_Hills (sol 19) and Bindi (sol 544).

Files

Additional details