Diagenetic features reveal the influence of the Greenheugh Pediment on the alteration history of Gale crater, Mars

We investigate the nature of diagenetic features encountered by the Curiosity rover within Mount Sharp from sols 1900-3049. Using Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) and Mast Camera (Mastcam), we classify diagenetic features into established morphological categories and assess their spatial distribution, density, and size. Our analysis reveals variations in diagenetic feature density and morphology linked to stratigraphic boundaries and proximity to the Greenheugh Pediment unconformity, highlighting the role of diagenetic fluids in shaping these features. We find a reduction in diagenetic features at the Jura to Knockfarril Hill member boundary, a spike in feature abundance at the Knockfarril Hill to Glasgow member boundary, and a strong statistical relationship between feature abundance and vertical distance from the Greenheugh Pediment. These trends point to a dynamic history of diagenetic fluid flow, influenced by variations in porosity, permeability, and structural controls including the presence of the Pediment.