Groundwater‐Controlled Deposition of Equatorial Layered Deposits in Central Arabia Terra, Mars

Abstract Equatorial Layered Deposits (ELDs) reveal aspects of past depositional environments useful for timing climatic and geological events on Mars. However, their formation has several contending hypotheses which reflect a diverse range possible environments. To better constrain mechanism, we analyzed the stratigraphic mineralogical characteristics mapped distribution ELDs within three close craters, Sera, Jiji, an unnamed crater in central Arabia Terra. Analyses craters' geology allowed us to reconstruct paleo‐environments where have been deposited. Thinning thickening sequence trends show shared repeated variations environment, reflecting sediment accumulation strongly controlled by regional groundwater reservoir. deposits are characterized monohydrated polyhydrated sulfate signatures implying interaction between water rock acidic conditions. Our study contributes understanding processes Terra revealing long‐term aqueous activity.