The Sedimentary Rock Cycle of Mars and Earth

Catalog description

This course consists of a mixture of instructor and student-led discussions on topics related to the sedimentary rock cycle on Mars as viewed through the lens of how we understand such processes on Earth. Topics:sediment transport and deposition, erosion processes and rates, lithification + diagenesis, water-rock interaction, and cyclicity in strata. Major goal: Assess how the sedimentary rock record of Mars can be used to understand changes in depositional processes and environmental conditions through time. Results from Mars satellite and rover data will be discussed, with an emphasis on fundamental processes as understood from detailed studies of Earths sedimentary rock record. Prerequisite: Undergraduate level sedimentology/stratigraphy, or permission of instructor.