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In-Situ Dating on Mars: The Potential of OSL DatingMore and more evidence is being accumulated that Mars has experienced aeolian, fluvial, and periglacial activity in the (relatively) recent past [1, 2, 3]. However, the temporal scale on which these processes took place is very poorly constrained since crater counting has errors comparable to the age for younger terrains (approx. 1 Ma). Consequently, many researchers have called for methods to establish the climatic and geomorphic history of Mars [4]. Lepper and McKeever [5] suggested developing optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating techniques for in-situ dating of martian sediments. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is closely related to OSL and could easily be incorporated on the same instrument platform [6]. These two methods can aid in developing a geological and climatic history of Mars over the last approx. one million years. Since the initial investigations, work has been carried out to develop OSL instrumentation and dating procedures that are suitable to the unique challenges of the martian environment. In this paper, we highlight the advances made in this project, focusing on OSL dating principles, assumptions, and procedures.
Document ID
20040065957
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Blair, M. W.
(Oklahoma State Univ. Stillwater, OK, United States)
Kalchgruber, R.
(Oklahoma State Univ. Stillwater, OK, United States)
Yukihara, E. G.
(Oklahoma State Univ. Stillwater, OK, United States)
Bulur, E.
(Oklahoma State Univ. Stillwater, OK, United States)
Kim, S. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
McKeever, W. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: The Future of Mars Surface Exploration
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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