Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p13c..04y&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P13C-04
Other
[1027] Geochemistry / Composition Of The Planets, [1060] Geochemistry / Planetary Geochemistry, [5470] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Surface Materials And Properties, [6225] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mars
Scientific paper
The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has been stationary at the western margin of Home Plate (a ~80 meter diameter feature) for over 100 sols while the team assesses techniques for extraction of the rover from an extensive deposit of loose sand. This stop has yielded an unprecedented opportunity to conduct a detailed investigation of the wheel-excavated, light-toned soil. The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) has established the elemental composition of 18 distinct samples, and the Mössbauer Spectrometer has collected approximately 1000 hours of data. The excellent precision of the APXS, combined with centimeter-scale offsets in the field of view, highlights elemental associations. For example, four separate APXS measurements were made along a ~8 cm transect showing a clear correlation of Ca and S with a Ca:S ratio of roughly 1:2. Iron sulfates, determined to be ferric sulfates by Mössbauer analyses, are also evident in the excavated soil. The APXS data suggest a Fe:S ratio of 2:3, as expected for a number of Fe3+ sulfates. Silica (SiO2) is an additional component, as is the admixture of basaltic soil. Noticeably absent is convincing evidence for Mg-sulfates. One puzzling aspect of these analyses is the extraordinary amount of sulfur, greater than 35 wt% SO3 in certain cases, if assumed as sulfate. This is among the highest concentration of sulfur found on Mars to date. The measured cations cannot reasonably account for this amount of sulfur, leaving open the possibility of sulfur phases with chemical components not detectable by APXS (e.g., Li). A more likely possibility, however, is the presence of elemental sulfur. Deposits of light-toned sulfates coupled with silica encountered previously in Spirit's traverse within Gusev crater have been interpreted as fumarolic deposits associated with a hydrothermal system. These new measurements, which provide stronger evidence for elemental sulfur, support the earlier conclusions. This recent discovery of an additional sulfate/silica location expands the areas known to have experienced hydrothermal activity.
Arvidson Ray E.
Clark Ben C.
Gellert Ralf
Morris Richard V.
Yen Albert S.
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