Stratigraphic Analysis of the Depositional Sequence in Danielson Crater, Mars

Abstract

Danielson Crater is a complex impact structure with a diameter of about 60 km and is located between North Sinus Meridiani and West Arabia Terra, on Mars. The crater is characterized by deposits showing alternations of bright material, apparently hard and massive, and dark material, less resistant than the former. Recent data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission have allowed a detailed analysis to be made of the depositional sequence, a stratigraphic column to be constructed (in progress), and several interesting surface features to be identified. The basis of our stratigraphic study was the analysis of a US Geological Survey HiRISE DTM covering our investigation area as well as the use of a software tool that allows layer attitudes (dip and strike angles) to be computed from remote-sensing data. Our observations, combined with larger-scale investigations conducted by other authors, allow us to constrain the possible formation mechanisms of these layered deposits and to relate them to past changes in Martian climate.