Columbus
Columbus crater based on THEMIS day-time image
PlanetMars
Coordinates29°48′S 166°06′W / 29.8°S 166.1°W / -29.8; -166.1
QuadrangleMemnonia
Diameter119 km
EponymChristopher Columbus, Italian explorer (1451-1506)

Columbus is a crater in the Terra Sirenum of Mars. It is 119 km in diameter and was named after Christopher Columbus, Italian explorer (1451–1506).[1][2] The discovery of sulfates and clay minerals in sediments within Columbus crater are strong evidence that a lake once existed in the crater.[3][4] Research with an orbiting near-infrared spectrometer, which reveals the types of minerals present based on the wavelengths of light they absorb, found evidence of layers of both clay and sulfates in Columbus crater. This is exactly what would appear if a large lake had slowly evaporated.[5][6] Moreover, because some layers contained gypsum, a sulfate which forms in relatively fresh water, life could have formed in the crater.[7]

Layers

Columbus crater contains layers, also called strata. In Columbus crater, the CRISM instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found kaolinite, hydrated sulfates including alunite and possibly jarosite.[8] Further study concluded that gypsum, polyhydrated and monohydrated Mg/Fe-sulfates were common and small deposits of montmorillonite, Fe/Mg-phyllosilicates, and crystalline ferric oxide or hydroxide were found. Thermal emission spectra suggest that some minerals were in the tens of percent range.[4]

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See also

References

  1. ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Columbus". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Google Mars".
  3. ^ "Sulfates and Clays in Columbus Crater, Mars". 24 July 2018.
  4. ^ a b Wray, J. J.; Milliken, R. E.; Dundas, C. M.; Swayze, G. A.; Andrews-Hanna, J. C.; Baldridge, A. M.; Chojnacki, M.; Bishop, J. L.; Ehlmann, B. L.; Murchie, S. L.; Clark, R. N.; Seelos, F. P.; Tornabene, L. L.; Squyres, S. W. (2011). "Columbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars". Journal of Geophysical Research. 116 (E1). Bibcode:2011JGRE..116.1001W. doi:10.1029/2010JE003694. S2CID 130336717.
  5. ^ Cabrol, N. and E. Grin (eds.). 2010. Lakes on Mars. Elsevier.NY.
  6. ^ Wray, J. et al. 2009. Columbus Crater and other possible paleelakes in Terra Sirenum, Mars. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 40: 1896.
  7. ^ "National Geographic". Archived from the original on December 5, 2009.
  8. ^ Scott L. Murchie; John F. Mustard; Bethany L. Ehlmann; et al. (22 September 2009). "A synthesis of Martian aqueous mineralogy after 1 Mars year of observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter". Journal of Geophysical Research. 114 (E2). Bibcode:2009JGRE..114.0D06M. doi:10.1029/2009JE003342. ISSN 0148-0227. Wikidata Q29542736.
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