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X-ray diffraction results from Mars Science Laboratory: mineralogy of Rocknest at Gale crater.

Authors :
Bish DL
Blake DF
Vaniman DT
Chipera SJ
Morris RV
Ming DW
Treiman AH
Sarrazin P
Morrison SM
Downs RT
Achilles CN
Yen AS
Bristow TF
Crisp JA
Morookian JM
Farmer JD
Rampe EB
Stolper EM
Spanovich N
Source :
Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2013 Sep 27; Vol. 341 (6153), pp. 1238932.
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity scooped samples of soil from the Rocknest aeolian bedform in Gale crater. Analysis of the soil with the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) x-ray diffraction (XRD) instrument revealed plagioclase (~An57), forsteritic olivine (~Fo62), augite, and pigeonite, with minor K-feldspar, magnetite, quartz, anhydrite, hematite, and ilmenite. The minor phases are present at, or near, detection limits. The soil also contains 27 ± 14 weight percent x-ray amorphous material, likely containing multiple Fe(3+)- and volatile-bearing phases, including possibly a substance resembling hisingerite. The crystalline component is similar to the normative mineralogy of certain basaltic rocks from Gusev crater on Mars and of martian basaltic meteorites. The amorphous component is similar to that found on Earth in places such as soils on the Mauna Kea volcano, Hawaii.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1095-9203
Volume :
341
Issue :
6153
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Science (New York, N.Y.)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24072925
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1238932