Red Rocks from Earth to Mars

Marjorie Chan

University of Utah

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Mars is an exciting frontier for sedimentology, with opportunities to discover what might exist within its sedimentary layers and surface landforms. Through new technologies and instrumentation advances, we have the ability to scientifically explore the Red Planet at unprecedented scales. Comparative studies of red rocks on Earth have provided important clues for interpreting the geology on Mars. Small terrestrial concretions compared with “blueberries” found on the red planet, helped scientists understand the past environments on Mars. Other terrestrial examples of soft-sediment deformation and weathering show remarkable similarities to recent satellite and rover imagery from Mars. Studies from Earth are critical because terrestrial analogs help us interpret similar processes on Mars and give clues about where life might exist on the Red Planet.

This presentation will also include a perspective on how Earth science research will change in the future. Fields of sedimentary and planetary geology must leverage and employ the power of cyber-infrastructure, where data sharing and data management can open new science discoveries and relationships.