Elemental Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars
Authors: McLennan S. M. , Anderson R. B. , Bell J. F. , Bridges J. C. , Calef F. , Campbell J. L. , Clark B. C. , Clegg S. , Conrad P. , Cousin A. , Des Marais D. J. , Dromart G. , Dyar M. D. , Edgar L. A. , Ehlmann B. L. , Fabre C. , Forni O. , Gasnault O. , Gellert R. , Gordon S. , Grant J. A. , Grotzinger J. P. , Gupta S. , Herkenhoff K. E. , Hurowitz J. A. , King P. L. , Le Mouélic S. , Leshin L. A. , Léveillé R. , Lewis K. W. , Mangold N. , Maurice S. , Ming D. W. , Morris R. V. , Nachon M. , Newsom H. E. , Ollila A. M. , Perrett G. M. , Rice M. S. , Schmidt M. E. , Schwenzer S. P. , Stack K. , Stolper E. M. , Sumner D. Y. , Treiman A. H. , VanBommel S. , Vaniman D. T. , Vasavada A. , Wiens R. C. , Yingst R. A. ,   MSL Science Team, Kemppinen Osku , Bridges Nathan , Johnson Jeffrey R. , Minitti Michelle , Cremers David , Farmer Jack , Godber Austin , Wadhwa Meenakshi , Wellington Danika , McEwan Ian , Newman Claire , Richardson Mark , Charpentier Antoine , Peret Laurent , Blank Jennifer , Weigle Gerald , Li Shuai , Milliken Ralph , Robertson Kevin , Sun Vivian , Baker Michael , Edwards Christopher , Farley Kenneth , Griffes Jennifer , Miller Hayden , Newcombe Megan , Pilorget Cedric , Siebach Kirsten , Brunet Claude , Hipkin Victoria , Marchand Geneviève , Sánchez Pablo Sobrón , Favot Laurent , Cody George , Steele Andrew , Flückiger Lorenzo , Lees David , Nefian Ara , Martin Mildred , Gailhanou Marc , Westall Frances , Israël Guy , Agard Christophe , Baroukh Julien , Donny Christophe , Gaboriaud Alain , Guillemot Philippe , Lafaille Vivian , Lorigny Eric , Paillet Alexis , Pérez René , Saccoccio Muriel , Yana Charles , Armiens‐Aparicio Carlos , Rodríguez Javier Caride , Blázquez Isaías Carrasco , Gómez Felipe Gómez , Gómez-Elvira Javier , Hettrich Sebastian , Malvitte Alain Lepinette , Jiménez Mercedes Marín , Martínez-Frías Jesús , Martín-Soler Javier , Martín-Torres F. Javier , Jurado Antonio Molina , Mora-Sotomayor Luis , Caro Guillermo Muñoz , López Sara Navarro , Peinado-González Verónica , Pla-García Jorge , Manfredi José Antonio Rodriguez , Romeral-Planelló Julio José , Fuentes Sara Alejandra Sans , Martinez Eduardo Sebastian , Redondo Josefina Torres , Urqui-O'Callaghan Roser , Mier María-Paz Zorzano , Chipera Steve , Lacour Jean-Luc , Mauchien Patrick , Sirven Jean-Baptiste , Manning Heidi , Fairén Alberto , Hayes Alexander , Joseph Jonathan , Squyres Steven , Sullivan Robert , Thomas Peter , Dupont Audrey , Lundberg Angela , Melikechi Noureddine , Mezzacappa Alissa , DeMarines Julia , Grinspoon David , Reitz Günther , Prats Benito , Atlaskin Evgeny , Genzer Maria , Harri Ari-Matti , Haukka Harri , Kahanpää Henrik , Kauhanen Janne , Kemppinen Osku , Paton Mark , Polkko Jouni , Schmidt Walter , Siili Tero , Wray James , Wilhelm Mary Beth , Poitrasson Franck , Patel Kiran , Gorevan Stephen , Indyk Stephen , Paulsen Gale , Bish David , Schieber Juergen , Gondet Brigitte , Langevin Yves , Geffroy Claude , Baratoux David , Berger Gilles , Cros Alain , d’Uston Claude , Lasue Jérémie , Lee Qiu-Mei , Meslin Pierre-Yves , Pallier Etienne , Parot Yann , Pinet Patrick , Schröder Susanne , Toplis Mike , Lewin Éric , Brunner Will , Heydari Ezat , Achilles Cherie , Oehler Dorothy , Sutter Brad , Cabane Michel , Coscia David , Israël Guy , Szopa Cyril , Robert François , Sautter Violaine , Buch Arnaud , Stalport Fabien , Coll Patrice , François Pascaline , Raulin François , Teinturier Samuel , Cameron James , DeLapp Dorothea , Dingler Robert , Jackson Ryan Steele , Johnstone Stephen , Lanza Nina , Little Cynthia , Nelson Tony , Williams Richard B. , Jones Andrea , Kirkland Laurel , Baker Burt , Cantor Bruce , Caplinger Michael , Davis Scott , Duston Brian , Edgett Kenneth , Fay Donald , Hardgrove Craig , Harker David , Herrera Paul , Jensen Elsa , Kennedy Megan R. , Krezoski Gillian , Krysak Daniel , Lipkaman Leslie , Malin Michael , McCartney Elaina , McNair Sean , Nixon Brian , Posiolova Liliya , Ravine Michael , Salamon Andrew , Saper Lee , Stoiber Kevin , Supulver Kimberley , Van Beek Jason , Van Beek Tessa , Zimdar Robert , French Katherine Louise , Iagnemma Karl , Miller Kristen , Summons Roger , Goesmann Fred , Goetz Walter , Hviid Stubbe , Johnson Micah , Lefavor Matthew , Lyness Eric , Breves Elly , Fassett Caleb , Blake David F. , Bristow Thomas , Edwards Laurence , Haberle Robert , Hoehler Tori , Hollingsworth Jeff , Kahre Melinda , Keely Leslie , McKay Christopher , Wilhelm Mary Beth , Bleacher Lora , Brinckerhoff William , Choi David , Dworkin Jason P. , Eigenbrode Jennifer , Floyd Melissa , Freissinet Caroline , Garvin James , Glavin Daniel , Harpold Daniel , Jones Andrea , Mahaffy Paul , Martin David K. , McAdam Amy , Pavlov Alexander , Raaen Eric , Smith Michael D. , Stern Jennifer , Tan Florence , Trainer Melissa , Meyer Michael , Posner Arik , Voytek Mary , Anderson Robert C. , Aubrey Andrew , Beegle Luther W. , Behar Alberto , Blaney Diana , Brinza David , Christensen Lance , Crisp Joy A. , DeFlores Lauren , Ehlmann Bethany , Feldman Jason , Feldman Sabrina , Flesch Gregory , Jun Insoo , Keymeulen Didier , Maki Justin , Mischna Michael , Morookian John Michael , Parker Timothy , Pavri Betina , Schoppers Marcel , Sengstacken Aaron , Simmonds John J. , Spanovich Nicole , Juarez Manuel de la Torre , Webster Christopher R. , Yen Albert , Archer Paul Douglas , Cucinotta Francis , Jones John H. , Niles Paul , Rampe Elizabeth , Nolan Thomas , Fisk Martin , Radziemski Leon , Barraclough Bruce , Bender Steve , Berman Daniel , Dobrea Eldar Noe , Tokar Robert , Williams Rebecca M. E. , Cleghorn Timothy , Huntress Wesley , Manhès Gérard , Hudgins Judy , Olson Timothy , Stewart Noel , Sarrazin Philippe , Vicenzi Edward , Wilson Sharon A. , Bullock Mark , Ehresmann Bent , Hamilton Victoria , Hassler Donald , Peterson Joseph , Rafkin Scot , Zeitlin Cary , Fedosov Fedor , Golovin Dmitry , Karpushkina Natalya , Kozyrev Alexander , Litvak Maxim , Malakhov Alexey , Mitrofanov Igor , Mokrousov Maxim , Nikiforov Sergey , Prokhorov Vasily , Sanin Anton , Tretyakov Vladislav , Varenikov Alexey , Vostrukhin Andrey , Kuzmin Ruslan , Wolff Michael , Botta Oliver , Drake Darrell , Bean Keri , Lemmon Mark , Lee Ella Mae , Sucharski Robert , Hernández Miguel Ángel de Pablo , Ávalos Juan José Blanco , Ramos Miguel , Kim Myung-Hee , Malespin Charles , Plante Ianik , Muller Jan-Peter , Navarro-González Rafael , Ewing Ryan , Boynton William , Downs Robert , Fitzgibbon Mike , Harshman Karl , Morrison Shaunna , Dietrich William , Kortmann Onno , Palucis Marisa , Williams Amy , Lugmair Günter , Wilson Michael A. , Rubin David , Jakosky Bruce , Balic-Zunic Tonci , Frydenvang Jens , Jensen Jaqueline Kløvgaard , Kinch Kjartan , Koefoed Asmus , Madsen Morten Bo , Stipp Susan Louise Svane , Boyd Nick , Pradler Irina , Jacob Samantha , Owen Tobias , Rowland Scott , Atlaskin Evgeny , Savijärvi Hannu , Boehm Eckart , Böttcher Stephan , Burmeister Sönke , Guo Jingnan , Köhler Jan , García César Martín , Mueller-Mellin Reinhold , Wimmer-Schweingruber Robert , McConnochie Timothy , Benna Mehdi , Franz Heather , Bower Hannah , Brunner Anna , Blau Hannah , Boucher Thomas , Carmosino Marco , Atreya Sushil , Elliott Harvey , Halleaux Douglas , Rennó Nilton , Wong Michael , Pepin Robert , Elliott Beverley , Spray John , Thompson Lucy , Williams Joshua , Vasconcelos Paulo , Bentz Jennifer , Nealson Kenneth , Popa Radu , Kah Linda C. , Moersch Jeffrey , Tate Christopher , Day Mackenzie , Kocurek Gary , Hallet Bernard , Sletten Ronald , Francis Raymond , McCullough Emily , Cloutis Ed , ten Kate Inge Loes , Kuzmin Ruslan , Arvidson Raymond , Fraeman Abigail , Scholes Daniel , Slavney Susan , Stein Thomas , Ward Jennifer , Berger Jeffrey , Moores John E. 
Published: December 2013

Sedimentary rocks examined by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay, Mars, were derived from sources that evolved from an approximately average martian crustal composition to one influenced by alkaline basalts. No evidence of chemical weathering is preserved, indicating arid, possibly cold, paleoclimates and rapid erosion and deposition. The absence of predicted geochemical variations indicates that magnetite and phyllosilicates formed by diagenesis under low-temperature, circumneutral pH, rock-dominated aqueous conditions. Analyses of diagenetic features (including concretions, raised ridges, and fractures) at high spatial resolution indicate that they are composed of iron- and halogen-rich components, magnesium-iron-chlorine–rich components, and hydrated calcium sulfates, respectively. Composition of a cross-cutting dike-like feature is consistent with sedimentary intrusion. The geochemistry of these sedimentary rocks provides further evidence for diverse depositional and diagenetic sedimentary environments during the early history of Mars.