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The Alteration History of Clovis Class Rocks in Gusev Crater as Determined by Ti-Normalzed Mass Balance AnalysisThe West Spur Clovis class rocks in Gusev Crater are some of the most altered rocks in Gusev Crater and likely contain a mixed sulfate and phyllosilicate mineralogy [1,2]. The high S and Cl content of the Clovis rocks suggests that acidic vapors or fluids of H2SO4 and HCl reacted with the Clovis parent rock to form Ca, Mg,- sulfates, iron-oxyhydroxides and secondary aluminosilicates (approx.60 wt.%) of a poorly crystalline nature (e.g., allophane) [1]. Up to 14-17 wt.% phyllosilicates (e.g., kaolinite, chlorite, serpentine) are hypothesized to exist in the Clovis materials suggesting that Clovis parent materials while possibly exposed to acidic pHs were likely neutralized by basalt dissolution which resulted in mildly acidic pHs (4-6) [1, 2]. This work proposes that subsequent to the alteration of the Clovis rocks, alteration fluids became concentrated in ions resulting in the addition of silicate and salts. The objective of this work is to utilize Ti-normalized mass balance analysis to evaluate (1) mineral gains and losses and (2) elemental gains and losses in the Clovis rocks. Results of this work will be used evaluate the nature of geochemical conditions that affect phyllosilicate and sulfate formation at Gusev crater.
Document ID
20120001816
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sutter, Brat
(Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
Ming, Douglas W.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Niles, P. B.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Golden, D. C.
(Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2012
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-25575
Meeting Information
Meeting: 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 19, 2012
End Date: March 23, 2012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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