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Chemical composition of Martian finesOf the 21 samples acquired for the Viking X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, 17 were analyzed to high precision. Compared to typical terrestrial continental soils and lunar mare fines, the Martian fines are lower in Al, higher in Fe, and much higher in S and Cl concentrations. Protected fines at the two lander sites are almost indistinguishable, but concentration of the element S is somewhat higher at Utopia. Duricrust fragments, successfully acquired only at the Chryse site, invariably contained about 50% higher S than fines. No elements correlate positively with S, except Cl and possibly Mg. A sympathetic variation is found among the triad Si, Al, Ca; positive correlation occurs between Ti and Fe. Sample variabilities are as great within a few meters as between lander locations (4500 km apart), implying the existence of a universal Martian regolith component of constant average composition. The nature of the source materials for the regolith fines must be mafic to ultramafic.
Document ID
19830034358
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Clark, B. C.
(Martin Marietta Planetary Sciences Laboratory Denver, CO, United States)
Baird, A. K.
(Martin Marietta Aerospace Denver, CO, United States)
Weldon, R. J.
(Martin Marietta Aerospace Denver, CO, United States)
Tsusaki, D. M.
(Martin Marietta Aerospace Denver, CO, United States)
Schnabel, L.
(Martin Marietta Aerospace Denver, CO, United States)
Candelaria, M. P.
(Pomona College Claremont, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
November 30, 1982
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
83A15576
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7566
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-3284
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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