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Compositional constraints on hematite-rich spherule (blueberry) formation at meridiani planum, mars
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Gellert, R. Schneider, A. L. Mittlefehldt, D. W. Jolliff, B. |
| Copyright Year | 2007 |
| Description | Meridiani Planum was chosen as the landing site for the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity partially based on Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer data indicating an abundance of hematite. Hematite often forms through processes that involve water, so the site was a promising one to determine whether conditions on Mars were ever suitable for life. Opportunity struck pay dirt; it s Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) and Mossbauer Spectrometer (MB) confirmed the presence of hematite in sulfate-rich sedimentary beds and in lag deposits. Meridiani Planum rocks contain three main components: silicate phases, sulfate and possibly chloride salts, and ferric oxide phases such as hematite. Primary igneous phases are at low abundance despite the basaltic origin of the protoliths. Jarosite, an alkali ferric sulfate, was identified by Mossbauer. Some of the hematite is contained in the spherules, and some resides in finer grains in outcrops. Mossbauer and Mini-TES data indicate that hematite is a dominant constituent of the spherules. Panoramic Camera (Pancam) and Microscopic Imager (MI) images of spherule interiors show that hematite is present throughout. The exact composition of the spherules is unknown. Mini-TES only identifies a hematite signature in the spherules; any other constituents have an upper limit of 5-10% .The MB data are consistent with the spherules being composed of only hematite. |
| File Size | 896801 |
| Page Count | 2 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20070009929 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t0ps2rm6r |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2007-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Geophysics Hematite Mars Environment Thermal Emission Spectrometers Basalt Mars Surface Silicates Miniaturization Sulfates Spherules Mars Exploration Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
