Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufm.p22a0382c&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #P22A-0382
Other
3665 Mineral Occurrences And Deposits, 5410 Composition, 5464 Remote Sensing, 5470 Surface Materials And Properties
Scientific paper
Spectral information from both the Mariner 6 and 7 Infrared Spectrometers (IRS) and the French Phobos Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (ISM) suggest that there is strong heterogeneity in the strength, and quantity, of surface hydration, based upon the characteristic absorption feature at 3-μm. Studies by Calvin (1997, 1998) and Murchie et al (2000) have noted that anomalously high hydration features appear in moderate to low albedo regions. The discovery of bulk, gray hematite by the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) in the Sinus Meridiani region (Christensen et al. 2000) further supports this model of aqueous processes leaving remnant signatures in medium to low albedo regions. The Terra Meridiani hematite area is among the final candidates for the Mars Exploration Rover landing sites. We have recently noted the precise correlation between the TES hematite locations and IRS spectra suggesting increased water of hydration. As this oxide mineral does not include hydration features it suggests the presence of other, associated hydrated minerals at the site. Analogs for this type of low-temperature, low-oxygen alteration include both terrestrial Archean iron formations and carbonaceous chondrites. Strong similarities are noted between the types of alteration minerals found in both these environments. In these models, the most likely carrier of the water is hydrated ferrous silicates. Calvin (1998) has previously presented the compatibility of these phyllosilicates with short wavelength observations and we extend this analysis to the spectral range covered by mini-TES. In particular, focus on the 6-μm water feature as indicative of water content is explored. In these natural analogs, mineral components are often mixed on microscopic (0.1 to 2 μm) and macroscopic (mm to cm) scales. The Mars Exploration Rover we will be able to identify finely laminated structures using the microscopic imager and PanCam and resolve associated mineralogies using mini-TES. While atmospheric interference degrades spectral quality at the shortest wavelengths in TES, we expect improved signal-to-noise with surface measurements from mini-TES and can use the 6-μm band to examine local variability in water content at the rover site.
Baldridge Alice
Calvin Wendy M.
Fallacaro Alicia
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