Accurate interpretation of the martian sedimentary rock record-and by extension that planet's paleoenvironmental history and potential habitability-relies heavily on rover-based acquisition of textural and compositional data and researchers to properly interpret those data. However, the degree to which this type of remotely sensed information can be unambiguously resolved and accurately linked to geological processes in ancient sedimentary systems warrants further study. In this study, we characterize Mars-relevant siliciclastic-evaporite samples by traditional laboratory-based geological methods (thin section petrography, X-ray diffraction [XRD], backscattered electron imaging, microprobe chemical analyses) and remote sensing methods relevant to martian rover payloads (visible-near-mid infrared reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence mapping, XRD). We assess each method's ability to resolve primary and secondary sedimentologic features necessary for the accurate interpretation of paleoenvironmental processes. While the most dominant textures and associated compositions (i.e., bedded gypsum evaporite) of the sample suite are readily identified by a combination of remote sensing techniques, equally important, although more subtle, components (i.e., interbedded windblown silt, meniscus cements) are not resolved unambiguously in bulk samples. However, rover-based techniques capable of coordinating spatially resolved compositional measurements with textural imaging reveal important features not readily detected using traditional assessments (i.e., subtle clay-organic associations, microscale diagenetic nodules). Our findings demonstrate the improved generational capacity of rovers to explore ancient sedimentary environments on Mars while also highlighting the complexities in extracting comprehensive paleoenvironmental information when limited to currently available rover-based techniques. Complete and accurate interpretation of ancient martian sedimentary environments, and by extension the habitability of those environments, likely requires sample return or in situ human exploration. Plain Language Summary Only when correctly translated can the ancient martian sedimentary rock record reveal the environmental evolution of the planet's surface through time. In this case study, we characterize Mars-relevant sedimentary rocks and evaluate the degree to which a comprehensive geological picture can be resolved unambiguously when limited to microscale remote sensing methods relevant to rovers on Mars. While the most dominant textural features and associated compositions of the sample suite are readily identified by a combination of remote sensing techniques, equally important but more subtle components are not resolved unambiguously in bulk samples. However, rover-based techniques capable of coordinating spatially resolved compositional measurements with textural imaging, such as Perseverance Rover's Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry instrument, reveal important features not readily detected by more traditional methods. We demonstrate that rovers have, generationally, improved in their capacity to resolve a true geological picture in ancient sedimentary environments, likely owing to an improved ability to coordinate spatially resolved compositional measurements with textural imaging at the microscale. However, our work also highlights the complexities involved in extracting subtle environmental information when limited to currently available rover-based techniques and suggests that comprehensive interpretation of ancient martian sedimentary systems likely requires sample return or in situ human exploration. Key Points Mars-relevant samples are characterized using both traditional laboratory and microscale rover-based remote sensing techniques to assess each method's ability to recognize features necessary for accurate paleoenvironmental process interpretation. While some key paleoenvironmental processes can reasonably be inferred via remote sensing methods, others cannot be resolved unambiguously. Perseverance Rover's Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry instrument reveals diagenetic features that would otherwise remain unseen by traditional thin section petrography.

中文翻译：

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遥感仪器观测到的古代硅质碎屑蒸发岩对火星沉积环境的漫游者规模探索具有重要意义。

对火星沉积岩记录的准确解释——以及该行星的古环境历史和潜在宜居性——在很大程度上依赖于基于漫游者的结构和成分数据采集以及研究人员对这些数据的正确解释。然而，这种类型的遥感信息在多大程度上可以被明确地解析并准确地与古代沉积系统中的地质过程联系起来，值得进一步研究。在这项研究中，我们通过传统的基于实验室的地质方法（薄片岩相学、X 射线衍射 [XRD]、背散射电子成像、微探针化学分析）和与火星探测器有效载荷相关的遥感方法来表征与火星相关的硅质碎屑岩-蒸发岩样品（可见-近-中红外反射光谱，X 射线荧光作图，XRD）。我们评估了每种方法解决准确解释古环境过程所必需的主要和次要沉积学特征的能力。虽然样本组最主要的结构和相关成分（即层状石膏蒸发岩）很容易通过遥感技术的组合识别，但同样重要但更微妙的是，成分（即夹层风吹淤泥、半月板胶结物）无法识别在批量样本中明确解决。然而，能够协调空间分辨成分测量与纹理成像的基于流动站的技术揭示了使用传统评估不易检测到的重要特征（即微妙的粘土 - 有机组合，微型成岩结核）。我们的研究结果表明，漫游者探索火星古代沉积环境的世代能力有所提高，同时也强调了在仅限于当前可用的基于漫游者的技术时提取综合古环境信息的复杂性。完整而准确地解释古代火星沉积环境，并进一步解释这些环境的宜居性，可能需要样本返回或原位人类探索。通俗易懂的摘要 只有在正确翻译的情况下，古代火星沉积岩记录才能揭示行星表面随时间的环境演变。在这个案例研究中，我们描述了与火星相关的沉积岩的特征，并评估了当仅限于与火星漫游者相关的微尺度遥感方法时，可以明确解析综合地质图的程度。虽然样本组中最主要的纹理特征和相关成分很容易通过遥感技术的组合来识别，但同样重要但更微妙的成分并没有在大量样本中得到明确解决。然而，基于流动站的技术能够协调空间分辨成分测量与纹理成像，例如用于 X 射线岩石化学仪器的 Perseverance Rover 行星仪器，揭示了更传统方法不易检测到的重要特征。我们证明漫游者有世代相传的，提高了他们解析古代沉积环境中真实地质图的能力，这可能是由于在微观尺度上协调空间分辨成分测量与纹理成像的能力有所提高。然而，我们的工作也强调了在仅限于当前可用的基于漫游者的技术时提取微妙环境信息所涉及的复杂性，并表明对古代火星沉积系统的全面解释可能需要样本返回或原位人类探索。要点 与火星相关的样本使用传统实验室和基于微型流动站的遥感技术进行表征，以评估每种方法识别准确古环境过程解释所需特征的能力。虽然可以通过遥感方法合理地推断出一些关键的古环境过程，但无法明确地解决其他过程。Perseverance Rover 的 X 射线岩石化学行星仪器揭示了传统薄片岩相学无法发现的成岩特征。