Physics
Scientific paper
Aug 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006iaujd..10e..21c&link_type=abstract
Progress in Planetary Exploration Missions, 26th meeting of the IAU, Joint Discussion 10, 21-22 August 2006, Prague, Czech Repub
Physics
Scientific paper
The cratered southern highlands of Mars are relatively ancient and should be covered by tens of meters of ballistically-emplaced impact ejecta [1]. No martian impact ejecta has yet been identified in situ, but impact glass is an expected component of the martian surface [2]. The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has investigated several kinds of rocks that may be of impact origin. Clovis Class rocks were found along the West spur of Husband Hill; they are extensively-altered, poorly-sorted clastic rocks of possible impact origin, having high Ni/Cr ratios and miniTES analyses distinguished by a component consistent with basaltic glass [3]. Home Plate is a raised platform structure in the Inner Basin of the Columbia Hills whose walls consist of two units: a lower, coarse-grained, poorly-sorted layer and an upper, fine-grained, cross-stratified layer. Home Plate is associated with nearby vesicular basalt blocks of similar composition, possibly favoring a volcanic origin for both layers, but draping of volcanic or aolian layers over an impact structure is a viable alternative hypothesis pending further exploration. I will show how multivariate analysis (multi-element correlations and principal component analysis) using Spirit Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) elemental data [4] helps in determining whether a unique impact glass component can be characterized in the Clovis Class and Home Plate rocks, using the impact-generated Martian glass EETA79110 Lithology C as an analog. [1] Cohen (2006) Quantifying the amount of impact ejecta at the MER landing sites and potential paleolakes in the southern Martian highlands. Geophys. Res. Lett. 33, doi:10.1029/2005GL024963. [2] Schultz and Mustard (2004) Impact melts and glasses on Mars. J. Geophys. Res. 109, doi 10.1029/2002JE002025. [3] Squyres et al. (2006) Rocks of the Columbia Hills. J. Geophys. Res. 111, doi:10.1029/ 2005JE002562. [4] Gellert, R., et al. (2006) Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): Results from Gusev crater and calibration report. J. Geophys. Res. 111, doi:10.1029/2005JE002555.
No associations
LandOfFree
Identifying In Situ Martian Impact Products With The Mars Exploration Rovers 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 Identifying In Situ Martian Impact Products With The Mars Exploration Rovers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Identifying In Situ Martian Impact Products With The Mars Exploration Rovers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1785022