Introduction: The OMEGA instrument on Mars Express has recently detected the largest gypsum deposit on Mars within the north polar sand sea [1]. Here we discuss the unique geologic context and origin of this evaporite deposit. Gypsum on Earth and Mars: Gypsum is a hydrated Ca-sulfate (2H 2 O • CaSO 4). Though gypsum can be formed, for example, as a hydrothermal deposit [e.g., 2] or as an altera...

Mega-dunes in the lake group area of Badain Jaran Sand Sea, China, are generally taller than dunes non-lake area. This spatial distribution dune heights may provide a new perspective on controversy regarding dunes’ formation mechanism. In this study, we calculated relative and slopes individual based digital elevation model, confirmed height abnormally tall sand sea. It was also found that more...

The Olympic Dam archaeological salvage program covers an area of 600 km2 and contains more than 16,500 archaeological sites, most of which are open scatters of stone artefacts on linear sand dunes. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating offers an opportunity to date recent phases of dune movement and stability, and to provide a chronology for archaeological material on and in the sand b...

Cellular automata have been successfully used to model the sand dynamics of aeolian dunes and ripples. The cellular automata Monte-Carlo model proposed in this paper expands the capabilities of cellular automata models to under water ripple formation introducing not a two dimensional matrix but two three dimensional volumes, being a sand volume and a water volume. The proposed model has the cap...