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Abstract: The Mawrth Vallis area displays some of the largest phyllosilicate-rich outcrops of Mars, on Noachian highlands. The Mawrth Vallis region is located just at the dichotomy boundary between the Noachian highlands and the younger, northern lowlands. A large, thick, layered clay-rich unit is present throughout the inter-crater plateaus. Clay-rich layers have also been identified in parts of the Mawrth Vallis and Oyama crater floors. The age of the alteration and its relationships with other processes such as fluvial activity is fundamental for estimating the timing of aqueous activity and habitability in this region, and on Mars. We have investigated the relative stratigraphy and ages of the regional plateau, of key surfaces of the inter-crater plateau, of Oyama crater''s floor and of Chryse Planitia deposits in Mawrth Vallis'' mouth to constrain the age of the clay unit and its alteration. According to the cratering model results, the main layered unit may have started forming prior to ∼4.0Ga ago, was largely deposited by ∼3.9Ga ago, and suffered erosion and redeposition up to ∼3.8Ga ago, as indicated by the latest age of the deposits on the floor of Oyama crater. Surface aqueous alteration stopped no later than 3.7–3.6Ga ago, corresponding to the age of the dark, non-altered material capping the region, and of the dark deposits in Mawrth Vallis'' mouth. This work provides useful boundaries for constraining the time period of surface or shallow sub-surface water activity in this region. This preserved window into early phases of aqueous activity on Mars gives us a unique opportunity to study an aqueous environment of exobiological interest in the early solar system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Tyrrhena Terra region of Mars is studied with the imaging spectrometers OMEGA (Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l’Eau, les Glaces et l’Activité) onboard Mars Express and CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Infrared Spectrometer for Mars) onboard Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, through the observation of tens of craters that impacted into this part of the martian highlands. The 175 detections of hydrated silicates are reported, mainly associated with ejecta blankets, crater walls and rims, and central up-lifts. Sizes of craters where hydrated silicates are detected are highly variable, diameters range from less than 1km to 42km. We report the presence of zeolites and phyllosilicates like prehnite, Mg-chlorite, Mg-rich smectites and mixed-layer chlorites–smectites and chlorite–vermiculite from comparison of hyperspectral infrared observations with laboratory spectra. These minerals are associated with fresh craters post-dating any aqueous activity. They likely represent ancient hydrated terrains excavated by the crater-forming impacts, and hence reveal the composition of the altered Noachian crust, although crater-related hydrothermal activity may have played a minor role for the largest craters (>20km in diameter). Most detected minerals formed over relatively high temperatures (100–300°C), likely due to aqueous alteration of the Noachian crust by regional low grade metamorphism from the Noachian thermal gradient and/or by extended hydrothermal systems associated with Noachian volcanism and ancient large impact craters. This is in contrast with some other phyllosilicate-bearing regions like Mawrth Vallis where smectites, kaolinites and hydrated silica were mainly identified, pointing to a predominance of surface/shallow sub-surface alteration; and where excavation by impacts played only a minor role. Smooth plains containing hydrated silicates are observed at the boundary between the Noachian altered crust, dissected by fluvial valleys, and the Hesperian unaltered volcanic plains. These plains may correspond to alluvial deposition of eroded material. The highlands of Tyrrhena Terra are therefore particularly well suited for investigating the diversity of hydrated minerals in ancient martian terrains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The 174km diameter Terby impact crater (28.0°S–74.1°E) located on the northern rim of the Hellas basin displays anomalous inner morphology, including a flat floor and light-toned layered deposits. An analysis of these deposits was performed using multiple datasets from Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter missions, with visible images for interpretation, near-infrared data for mineralogical mapping, and topography for geometry. The geometry of layered deposits was consistent with that of sediments that settled mainly in a sub-aqueous environment, during the Noachian period as determined by crater counts. To the north, the thickest sediments displayed sequences for fan deltas, as identified by 100m to 1km long clinoforms, as defined by horizontal beds passing to foreset beds dipping by 6–10° toward the center of the Terby crater. The identification of distinct sub-aqueous fan sequences, separated by unconformities and local wedges, showed the accumulation of sediments from prograding/onlapping depositional sequences, due to lake level and sediment supply variations. The mineralogy of several layers with hydrated minerals, including Fe/Mg phyllosilicates, supports this type of sedimentary environment. The volume of fan sediments was estimated as >5000km3 (a large amount considering classical martian fan deltas such as Eberswalde (6km3)) and requires sustained liquid water activity. Such a large sedimentary deposition in Terby crater is characteristic of the Noachian/Phyllosian period during which the environment favored the formation of phyllosilicates. The latter were detected by spectral data in the layered deposits of Terby crater in three distinct layer sequences. During the Hesperian period, the sediments experienced strong erosion, possibly enhanced by more acidic conditions, forming the current morphology with three mesas and closed depressions. Small fluvial valleys and alluvial fans formed subsequently, attesting to late fluvial processes dated as late Early to early Late Hesperian. After this late fluvial episode, the Terby impact crater was submitted to aeolian processes and permanent cold conditions with viscous flow features. Therefore, the Terby crater displays, in a single location, geologic features that characterize the three main periods of time on Mars, with the presence of one of the thickest sub-aqueous fan deposits reported on Mars. The filling of Terby impact crater is thus one potential “reference geologic cross-section” for Mars stratigraphy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] We derive the modal mineralogy of the four MSL landing site candidates. [•] The largest abundance of phyllosilicates (30–70vol%) is found in Mawrth Vallis. [•] The Holden deposit composition suggests transport and deposition of altered basalts. [•] The Eberswalde mineralogy consists of detrital clays and authigenic phases. [•] At Gale, the low abundance of clays do not favor a complex and long drainage system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Impact craters cover a large portion of the surface of Mars and could constitute a significant exobiology research target as their formation provided heat sources for aqueous processes. To date, only rare examples of hydrothermal alteration in craters have been reported on Mars while many studies have focused on modeling their effect. Using data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Express probes, we report the presence of hydrated minerals, mainly Fe/Mg phyllosilicates, with vermiculite as best-fit, that are found in an alluvial fan. This fan is located inside a crater located in NE Hellas region and dated to the Late Hesperian by crater counts and crosscutting relationships. The stratigraphic position of the hydrated minerals and presence of small domes interpreted as hydrothermal vents indicate that the alteration occurred in the lower level of the alluvial fan and was triggered by bottom-up alteration. These observations are best explained by a combination of snow deposition and subsequent melting eroding crater rims and forming the fan, with impact warming, which triggered the alteration at the base of the fan. This example shows that phyllosilicates are able to form late in the Martian history, especially in local niches of strong exobiological interest. It also suggests that a similar process was possible in alluvial fans of other large impact craters including those at Gale crater. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]