Mineralogic and petrologic implications of Viking geochemical results from Mars - Interim report

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

32

Chemical Composition, Landing Sites, Mars Surface, Mineral Exploration, Petrology, Viking Lander Spacecraft, Alkali Metals, Fines, Geochemistry, Igneous Rocks, Mineralogy, Soil Science, Trace Elements, Viking Mars Program

Scientific paper

Chemical results from four samples of Martian fines delivered to Viking landers 1 and 2 are remarkably similar in that they all have high iron; moderate magnesium, calcium, and sulfur; low aluminum; and apparently very low alkalies and trace elements. This composition is best interpreted as representing the weathering products of mafic igneous rocks. A mineralogic model, derived from computer mixing studies and laboratory analog preparations, suggests that Mars fines could be an intimate mixture of about 80% iron-rich clay, about 10% magnesium sulfate (kieserite), about 5% carbonate (calcite), and about 5% iron oxides (hematite, magnetite, maghemite, goethite). The mafic nature of the present fines (distributed globally) and their probable source rocks seems to preclude large-scale planetary differentiation of a terrestrial nature.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Mineralogic and petrologic implications of Viking geochemical results from Mars - Interim report does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Mineralogic and petrologic implications of Viking geochemical results from Mars - Interim report, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mineralogic and petrologic implications of Viking geochemical results from Mars - Interim report will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1052949

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.