Development of chemical indicators of aqueous alteration on Mars with applications to the 2004 MER landing sites

Details Development of chemical indicators of aqueous alteration on Mars with applications to the 2004 MER landing sites Development of chemical indicators of aqueous alteration on Mars with applications to the 2004 MER landing sites

Dec 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003agufm.p22a0064g&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003, abstract #P22A-0064

Mathematics

Logic

1060 Planetary Geochemistry (5405, 5410, 5704, 5709, 6005, 6008), 6225 Mars

Scientific paper

Data collected by the Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) and Mars Exploration Rover Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometers (MER-APXS) will allow for unprecedented chemical information to be obtained from the Martian surface. Phosphorous and iron are two elements that should be measured with some accuracy by MER-APXS (as opposed to MPF). The well-known affinity of iron oxide/hydroxides for sorption of phosphate in oceans, lakes, rivers, and soils will be used to assess the utility of P/Fe (in conjunction with other elements and element ratios measurable by MER-APXS) as an indicator of aqueous activity at the two 2004 MER landing sites. Iron oxide/hydroxides are also an effective sink for Th in terrestrial waters; thus, GRS data may also be valuable in evaluating the nature of aqueous alteration (or lack thereof) at the MER landing sites. For example, the hematite-bearing deposit in Sinus Meridiani (2S, 4W) has a high Th concentration and low K/Th, suggesting that sorption of Th by specular hematite in aqueous solution may have occurred at some point in the geologic history of this region of Mars. Experiments on the sorptive properties of specular hematite and palagonite for PO4 and Th will be used to develop a model for the role of water in formation of deposits at the two MER landing sites.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Development of chemical indicators of aqueous alteration on Mars with applications to the 2004 MER landing sites 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 Development of chemical indicators of aqueous alteration on Mars with applications to the 2004 MER landing sites, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Development of chemical indicators of aqueous alteration on Mars with applications to the 2004 MER landing sites will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1425294