Grain Size Variations in the Murray Formation: Stratigraphic Evidence for Changing Depositional Environments in Gale Crater, Mars

The lowermost exposure of the Murray formation in Gale crater, Mars, was interpreted as sediment deposited in an ancient lake based on data collected by the Curiosity rover. Constraining the stratigraphic extent and duration of this environment has important implications for the paleohydrology of Gale. Insights into early Martian environments and paleofluid flow velocity can be obtained from grain size in rocks. Visual inspection of grain size is not always available for rocks investigated at field sites on Mars due to limited image coverage. But grain sizes can also be estimated from the Gini Index Mean Score, a grain-size proxy that uses point-to-point chemical variations in ChemCam Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy data. New Gini Index Mean Score results indicate that the Murray formation is dominated by mudstones with grains smaller than the spatial resolution of all rover cameras. Intervals of fine to coarse sandstone also are present, some of which are verified using observations of grain size and sedimentary structures in associated images. Overall, results demonstrate that most of the Murray consists of mudstone, suggesting settling of grains from suspension in low energy depositional environments such as lakes. Some of the mudstones contain desiccation cracks indicating periods of drying with a lowering of lake water level. However, beds and lenses of cross-bedded sandstones are common at specific intervals, suggesting episodes of fluvial and possibly eolian deposition. The persistence of lacustrine deposits interspersed with fluvial deposits suggests that liquid water was sustained on the Martian surface for tens of thousands to millions of years. Plain Language Summary The lowest exposed rocks of the Murray formation in Gale crater, Mars, are interpreted as ancient lake deposits based on Curiosity rover data. However, the duration and temporal variability of this ancient lake is still an open question. Here we characterize the vertical distribution of deposits within the entire Murray formation using new grain size information. Characterizing grain size in rocks provides information about the speed of past fluid flows, which is crucial for interpreting depositional environments. However, measuring grain size in images is rarely possible for Martian rocks. Thus, we estimate grain sizes with the Gini Index Mean Score, a grain-size proxy that uses ChemCam Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy data. Gini Index Mean Score results indicate that the Murray formation is dominated by rocks with mud-sized grains (i.e., mudstones), suggesting mud-sized grains settled in a low energy lake environment. Mud cracks occur in some of the mudstones, indicating drying periods in a lake. Rocks with sand-sized grains (i.e., sandstones) and cross bedding occur at specific intervals, suggesting episodes with stream channels and wind-blown sand dunes. The dominance of lake deposits interspersed with stream deposits suggests that liquid water was present in Gale crater for tens of thousands to millions of years.