Columbus (crater)

Columbus Crater is a crater in the Terra Sirenum of Mars, located at 29.8° south latitude and 166.1° west longitude. 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]

  • Map showing the relative positions of Columbus Crater and other nearby craters in Memnonia quadrangle
Columbus Crater
Columbus crater based on THEMIS day-time image
PlanetMars
Coordinates29.8°S 166.1°W / -29.8; -166.1
Diameter119 km
EponymChristopher Columbus, Italian explorer (1451-1506)

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.[9][10]

  • Columbus Crater Layers, as seen by HiRISE. This false-color image is about 800 feet across. Some of the layers contain hydrated minerals.
  • Close-up of Columbus Crater, as seen by HiRISE

See also

References
  1. "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | Columbus". usgs.gov. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. https://www.google.com/mars/
  3. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia15099.html#.VWyD-c9VhBc
  4. Wray, J., R. Milliken, C. Dundas, G. Swayze, J. Andrews-Hanna, A. Baldridge, M. Chojnacki, J. Bishop, B. Ehlmann, S. Murchie, R. Clark, F. Seelos, L. Tornabene, and S. Squyres. 2011. Columbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets DOI: 10.1029/2010JE003694
  5. Cabrol, N. and E. Grin (eds.). 2010. Lakes on Mars. Elsevier.NY.
  6. Wray, J. et al. 2009. Columbus Crater and other possible plaelakes in Terra Sirenum, Mars. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 40: 1896.
  7. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091125-mars-crater-lake-michigan-water_2.html
  8. Murchie, S. et al. 2009. A synthesis of Martian aqueous mineralogy after 1 Mars year of observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Journal of Geophysical Research: 114.
  9. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70035986
  10. Wray, J., R. Milliken, C. Dundas, G. Swayze, J. Andrews-Hanna, A. Baldridge, M. Chojnacki, J. Bishop, B. Ehlmann, S. Murchie, R. Clark, F. Seelos, L. Tornabene, and S. Squyres. 2011. Columbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets DOI: 10.1029/2010JE003694
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