Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufm.p41b1275s&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #P41B-1275
Mathematics
Logic
5410 Composition (1060, 3672), 5415 Erosion And Weathering
Scientific paper
The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has by now identified more than six different rock classes during its traverse from the landing site across the plains and into the Columbia Hills. The classification is based on the rocks' chemical composition, and can be further divided into several subclasses on the basis of mineralogical composition from Moessbauer spectra. Rocks in Gusev Crater show various degrees of alteration, both between different rock classes and within individual rock classes. Fe3+/FeTotal ratios determined by Moessbauer spectroscopy were used as a measure of the alteration of individual rocks. Spirit's Moessbauer spectrometer identified eight different Fe-bearing mineral phases: The primary minerals olivine, pyroxene, ilmenite, and magnetite as well as the secondary minerals hematite, goethite, an unspecified nanophase ferric oxide phase, and a ferric sulfate. For all rock and soil targets the amounts of Fe in individual primary minerals were plotted against Fe3+/FeTotal ratios, and the amounts of Fe in individual secondary minerals. A good correlation is observed between olivine and Fe3+/FeTotal in all rock and soil classes, whereas a good correlation between pyroxene and Fe3+/FeTotal is only observed in pervasively altered rocks in the Columbia Hills. Ilmenite and magnetite show no apparent correlation with Fe3+/FeTotal ratios. Plots between primary and secondary minerals indicate that Fe from olivine or pyroxene is altered to a range of secondary phases rather than one individual secondary mineral. However, remarkable correlations exist between olivine and hematite in Pot of Gold Class rocks and between magnetite and goethite in Clovis Class rocks. The results suggest that the slow alteration of olivine in rocks and soils is the only currently active alteration process in Gusev Crater.
Klingelhoefer G.
Morris Richard V.
Rodionov Daniel S.
Schroeder Chris
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