The Chemical Composition of Martian Soil and Rocks Returned by the Mobile Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer: Preliminary Results from the X-ray Mode

The alpha proton x-ray spectrometer (APXS) on board the rover of the Mars Pathfinder mission measured the chemical composition of six soils and five rocks at the Ares Vallis landing site. The soil analyses show similarity to those determined by the Viking missions. The analyzed rocks were partially...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1997-12, Vol.278 (5344), p.1771-1774
Main Authors: Rieder, R., Economou, T., Wänke, H., Turkevich, A., Crisp, J., Brückner, J., Dreibus, G., McSween, H. Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum - analysis
Chemical composition
Chemistry
Cosmochemistry. Extraterrestrial geology
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Extraterrestrial Environment
Extraterrestrial geology
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Geometry
Iron - analysis
Magnesium - analysis
Mars
Mars Pathfinder
Meteoroids
Organic Chemistry
Oxides - analysis
Potassium - analysis
Protons
Rocks
Sedimentary soils
Silicon Dioxide - analysis
SNC meteorites
Soil analysis
Soil chemistry
Soil composition
Soil pollution
Soils
Space exploration
Space life sciences
Weathering processes
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The alpha proton x-ray spectrometer (APXS) on board the rover of the Mars Pathfinder mission measured the chemical composition of six soils and five rocks at the Ares Vallis landing site. The soil analyses show similarity to those determined by the Viking missions. The analyzed rocks were partially covered by dust but otherwise compositionally similar to each other. They are unexpectedly high in silica and potassium, but low in magnesium compared to martian soils and martian meteorites. The analyzed rocks are similar in composition to terrestrial andesites and close to the mean composition of Earth's crust. Addition of a mafic component and reaction products of volcanic gases to the local rock material is necessary to explain the soil composition.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.278.5344.1771