Characteristics of the fractured intermediate unit from orbital and curiosity-based data

Introduction: Curiosity’s exploration of Glen Torridon has produced a wealth of information on the nature and extent of the fluvial-lacustrine-aeolian deposits that outcrop in this broad valley. To help understand the spatial distribution and to facilitate an understanding of the stratigraphic order of the various deposits we have generated a geomorphic map of Glen Torridon from HiRISE image data based on texture and color (Figure 1). In some cases, the map units correlate with inferred stratigraphic levels. This is the case for what is termed the fracture intermediate unit (FIU) and its overlying FIU-rubbly unit. The focus of this abstract is to both present the map units and to focus on Curiosity’s measurement campaigns in these two units.