A different perspective for the Mars rover ``Opportunity'' site: Fine-grained, consolidated hematite and hematite coatings

Details A different perspective for the Mars rover ``Opportunity'' site: Fine-grained, consolidated hematite and hematite coatings A different perspective for the Mars rover ``Opportunity'' site: Fine-grained, consolidated hematite and hematite coatings

Mar 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004georl..3105704k&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 31, Issue 5, CiteID L05704

Biology

4

Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Composition, Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Remote Sensing, Planetology: Solar System Objects: Mars, Planetology: Solar System Objects: Instruments And Techniques

Scientific paper

Since 2001, there have been two, parallel interpretations of Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) observations of Sinus Meridiani, which are: (1) coarse-grained (``gray'') hematite is the only spectral match; and (2) fine-grained hematite with particles closer than ~wavelength (``fine-intimate hematite'', e.g., coating, ferricrete) is a better match, but coarse hematite is also viable. The TES team interpreted the spectra as consistent only with a large deposit (~750 km × 350 km) of coarse hematite (>5-10 μm grain size). Coarse hematite is considered strong evidence for longstanding water, which led to the decision to land the rover Opportunity there. On the other hand, the Aerospace/LPI remote sensing team argued that fine-intimate hematite can better match TES spectra. A thin coating (~5-10 μm thick) and a low exposure (<5%) could cause the observed signatures. The distinction is important because: (1) It is unknown whether fine-grained hematite implies abundant water; (2) Fine-intimate hematite may explain the non-detection of coexisting aqueous alteration minerals and the lack of hematite wind streaks; (3) Current ``hematite abundance maps'' may instead map the surface texture; (4) Coatings may be of astrobiology interest; (5) Studies are needed to determine whether visible-infrared spectra can definitively distinguish fine-intimate from coarse hematite.

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