An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils

The mineralogical and elemental compositions of the martian soil are indicators of chemical and physical weathering processes. Using data from the Mars Exploration Rovers, we show that bright dust deposits on opposite sides of the planet are part of a global unit and not dominated by the composition...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature 2005-07, Vol.436 (7047), p.49-54
Main Authors: Yen, Albert S., Gellert, Ralf, Schroder, Christian, Morris, Richard V., Bell, James F 3rd, Knudson, Amy T., Clark, Benton C., Ming, Douglas W., Crisp, Joy A., Arvidson, Raymond E., Blaney, Diana, Bruckner, Johannes, Christensen, Philip R., DesMarais, David J., de Souza, Paulo A Jr, Economou, Thanasis E., Ghosh, Amitabha, Hahn, Brian C., Herkenhoff, Kenneth E., Haskin, Larry A., Hurowitz, Joel A., Joliff, Bradley L., Johnson, Jeffrey R., Klingelhofer, Gostar, Madsen, Morten Bo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Bromine - analysis
Chemistry
Dust - analysis
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Extraterrestrial Environment - chemistry
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Iron Compounds - analysis
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Magnesium Compounds - analysis
Mars
Mineralogy
Minerals - analysis
Minerals - chemistry
Nickel - analysis
Planets, their satellites and rings. Asteroids
Silicates - analysis
Silicates - chemistry
Soil - analysis
Soils
Solar system
Space exploration
Spectrophotometry, Infrared
Spectroscopy, Mossbauer
Water - analysis
Water - chemistry
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Summary:The mineralogical and elemental compositions of the martian soil are indicators of chemical and physical weathering processes. Using data from the Mars Exploration Rovers, we show that bright dust deposits on opposite sides of the planet are part of a global unit and not dominated by the composition of local rocks. Dark soil deposits at both sites have similar basaltic mineralogies, and could reflect either a global component or the general similarity in the compositions of the rocks from which they were derived. Increased levels of bromine are consistent with mobilization of soluble salts by thin films of liquid water, but the presence of olivine in analysed soil samples indicates that the extent of aqueous alteration of soils has been limited. Nickel abundances are enhanced at the immediate surface and indicate that the upper few millimetres of soil could contain up to one per cent meteoritic material.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/nature03637