New insights into the mineralogy and weathering of the Meridiani Planum meteorite, Mars

Details New insights into the mineralogy and weathering of the Meridiani Planum meteorite, Mars New insights into the mineralogy and weathering of the Meridiani Planum meteorite, Mars

Jan 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011m%26ps...46...21f&link_type=abstract

Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Volume 46, Issue 1, pp. 21-34.

Computer Science

3

Scientific paper

Meridiani Planum is the first officially recognized meteorite find on the surface of Mars. It was discovered at and named after the landing site of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. Based on its composition, it was classified as a IAB complex iron meteorite. Mössbauer spectra obtained by Opportunity are dominated by kamacite (α-Fe-Ni) and exhibit a small contribution of ferric oxide. Several small features in the spectra have been neglected to date. To shed more light on these features, five iron meteorite specimens were investigated as analogs to Meridiani Planum with a laboratory Mössbauer setup. Measurements were performed on (1) their metallic bulk, (2) troilite (FeS) inclusions, (3) cohenite ((Fe,Ni,Co)3C) and schreibersite ((Fe,Ni)3P), and (4) corroded rims. In addition to these room-temperature measurements, a specimen from the Mundrabilla IAB-ungrouped meteorite was measured at Mars-equivalent temperatures. Based on these measurements, the features in Meridiani Planum spectra can be explained with the presence of small amounts of schreibersite and/or cohenite and iron oxides. The iron oxides can be attributed to a previously reported coating on Meridiani Planum. Their presence indicates weathering through the interaction of the meteorite with small amounts of water.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

New insights into the mineralogy and weathering of the Meridiani Planum meteorite, Mars 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 New insights into the mineralogy and weathering of the Meridiani Planum meteorite, Mars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and New insights into the mineralogy and weathering of the Meridiani Planum meteorite, Mars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1599112