Sponsors — Conveners — Scientific Organizing Committee —
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MEETING LOCATION AND DATE |
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The First International Conference on Mars Sedimentology and Stratigraphy will be held April 19–21, 2010, in El Paso, Texas. It will be followed by a two-day field trip to Carlsbad, New Mexico. |
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PURPOSE AND SCOPE | |||||||||||||
Mars has preserved sedimentary rocks that record the evolution of its early surface environments. The oldest sedimentary rocks likely exceed 4 billion years and significantly predate the stabilization of the Archean cratons on Earth, which preserve the oldest sedimentary rocks on Earth. Thus, the martian sedimentary record may provide a unique opportunity to study the early environmental evolution of a terrestrial planet. It is during this key time interval that prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life appear to have taken place on Earth. The absence of well-preserved terrestrial sedimentary rocks are a significant barrier to investigating the earliest tectonic, climatic, and biologic processes, and are a powerful motivation for studying such rocks on Mars. This conference seeks to stimulate the exchange of ideas among the community of scientists with common interests in sedimentary processes and the stratigraphic record of sedimentary rocks on Mars. Topical sessions will include weathering processes, provenance, and diagenesis of sediments; transport and depositional processes (fluvial, eolian, lacustrine, evaporitic, volcaniclastic, and impact), both past and present; characterization and origin of vast exposures of layered bedrock; controls on stratigraphic stacking patterns and stratal geometry; and the evolution of sedimentary basins, including patterns of deformation. |
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CONFERENCE FORMAT | |||||||||||||
Technical sessions comprise invited and contributed talks and posters in a setting that will include adequate time for questions and discussion. A registration reception will be held Sunday evening, April 18, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Oral sessions will begin on Monday, April 19, and continue through mid-day on Wednesday, April 21. There will be a poster reception Monday evening, April 19, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Oral presentations – Poster presentations – Posters may be viewed during the day, as well as during the evening session. Presenters are encouraged to install their posters Monday morning. Posters must be removed Wednesday morning by 10:00 a.m. The detailed program with abstracts is now available. Presenters should check the author index to see when their presentation has been scheduled. |
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FIELD TRIP | |||||||||||||
After the meeting concludes mid-day on Wednesday, April 21, field trip participants will leave El Paso for Carlsbad, New Mexico, via bus. The field trip will focus on the sedimentary rocks that have filled the western part of the Permian Basin. The group will stay in Carlsbad for the nights of April 21 and 22. What we will see: These outcrops present very useful partial analogs for what might be present in the sedimentary rock record of Mars. Many of the martian sedimentary rocks also fill large basins, and are either observed or are presumed to show systematic variations from basin margin to basin interior as well as from oldest to youngest unit. Both systems show a mixture of sulfate and phyllosilicate minerals, along with other sedimentary components. Part of the value of exploring this analog in the field is that there are key general lessons to be learned about how sedimentary strata in general are formed, and what techniques and approaches are used by terrestrial geologists to study them; how, for example, paleobathymetry could be reconstructed based on observation of specific types of stratal geometries. Indeed, the rocks that will be seen on this field trip are possibly the most visited on Earth for the purpose of education, so participants with less experience in sedimentology and stratigraphy will find the stops to be very instructive. Stops on the field trip will be designed to highlight
Departure from Doubletree Hotel: Wednesday, April 21, noon. Participation is capped at 80 people. We expect this trip to be full and encourage early registration. |
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SPECIAL PUBLICATION | |||||||||||||
The conference proceedings and other papers related to subject will be considered for inclusion in a special publication of SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology). This society has played a major role in shaping the directions of terrestrial sedimentary geology and now welcomes expansion into the field of planetary sedimentary geology. Approval has been obtained for publication of a select number of papers as a bound volume, to be edited by J. Grotzinger and R. Milliken. If interested, please submit a potential title and brief description of the potential contribution to J. Grotzinger. All contributions are encouraged, but special emphasis will be placed on those papers that focus on sedimentologic and stratigraphic processes at any scale, the geochemistry and mineralogy of martian sedimentary rocks at any scale, case histories of particular regions or basins, and synthetic papers that attempt to integrate broader scale concepts. |
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REGISTRATION | |||||||||||||
Credit card registrations: Participants registering by credit card must use the secure electronic registration form. Other methods of payment: Those registering using any method of payment (check, money order, or traveler’s checks) must use the downloadable registration form. Cancellations: Requests for cancellation with a fee refund (less a $25.00 processing fee) will only be accepted through April 2, 2010. Those who fail to attend and do not notify the LPI prior to the April 2 deadline will forfeit their full fees. |
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ACCOMMODATIONS | |||||||||||||
The Doubletree Hotel El Paso Downtown/City Center is holding a block of rooms at a special rate of $92.00, plus tax, single or double occupancy. The hotel is located at 600 N. El Paso Street, El Paso, Texas, just six miles from the El Paso International Airport. To ensure a room at the special rate, reservations MUST be made by March 16, 2010. Participants are encouraged to make their reservations early. Room Reservations –
Reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card. All reserved guest rooms are guaranteed until 6:00 p.m. on the day of arrival. Guests planning to arrive after 6:00 p.m. should notify the hotel at the time the room is booked. If travel plans should change due to delayed flights or other circumstances, guests should contact the hotel directly at 915-532-8733. Cancellation Policy – * Special Note: |
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TRANSPORTATION | |||||||||||||
El Paso is served by the El Paso International Airport (ELP), about six miles from the Doubletree Hotel. The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service from the airport. A courtesy hotel phone bank is located directly in front of the baggage claim area. Guests will be able to arrange transportation on site from the airport to the Doubletree Hotel. Please see the airport shuttle website for further information. |
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CONTACTS | |||||||||||||
For further information regarding the scientific objectives and field trip, contact
For further information regarding conference logistics and announcements, contact
For further information regarding registration, contact |
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SCHEDULE |
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