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An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soilsThe 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.
Document ID
20050193480
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Yen, Albert S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
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
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
July 7, 2005
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 436
Issue: 7047
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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