MSL LANDING SITE CANDIDATE IN SOUTHWRST HOLDEN CRATER.

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MSL LANDING SITE CANDIDATE INSOUTHWRST HOLDEN
CRATER.

• M. C. Malin and K. S. Edgett
• Malin Space Science Systems
• San Diego, CA

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Why Holden?

• Well exposed, layered rock
• Erosional Expression includes many shallow slopes
  without stair-stepping
• One of the best (among a very rare form of
  occurrence) of both light and dark layers (beware
  MER/Endurance lesson)
• Erosional expression (undermining and collapse of
  several layers acting as cap-rocks) suggests the
  presence of multiple lithologies
• Site may be too rugged to land on, but nearby
  fans (probably alluvial?) provide easier access
  as a Go-TO landing site, with the advantage
  that the fans themselves may also be of
  considerable interest

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Areography

• Holden Crater is about 150 km in diameter
• The 20 km circle shown is centered at 26.66S,
  35.05W (areograhic coordinates)
• Uzboi Vallis, a component of the Surinda, Runa,
  Uzboi Valles system between Nirgal and Ladon
  Valles, enters the crater from the SW

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Relief

• The floor of Holden is about 2 km below the mean
  MOLA elevation
• Regional relief (? 1000s m is lt 100s m
• The fans slope to the east at about 2-2.5. The
  fan lobes are 100 m thick
• Local transverse relief on the surface of the
  fans is 10s m for l of 100s of m
• Local relief in the areas of layered rock outcrop
  is lt 100 m, declivity of gentle layered slopes is
  a ltlt 10

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Stratigraphy and Geologic History

• Holden impact occurred after Eberswalde to the
  north target material may have been layered rock
  (occasional layered outcrops on uplands
  surrounding Holden and at some distance away)
• Layered material emplaced within Holden then
  lithified
• Subsequent fluvial history eroded and buried
  layered rock
• Fluvial erosion of western wall (ridges of
  layered rock perpendicular to wall, subsequently
  embayed and buried by fans
• Uzboi Vallis breaches crater rim around this
  time and entrenches into layered rock at base of
  southwest wall
• The layered rock in SW Holden are NOT sediments
  from Uzboi

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Habitability (?)

• Pros
• Closed, sedimentary basin
• Region with substantial evidence for both
  surface- and ground-water
• Sediments and sedimentray rock protected by
  overburden

• Cons
• Ancient
• Cyclic environmental change
• Almost 30 from equator (fairly strong seasonal
  illumination and thermal conditions)

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Why Holden?

• Well exposed, layered rock
• Erosional Expression includes many shallow slopes
  without stair- stepping

• One of the best occurrences of both light and
  dark layers
• Erosional expression suggests the presence of
  multiple lithologies

Mexican Hat Rock, Utah
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