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Mineralogy of a Mudstone at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars
- Source :
- Science, Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2014, 343 (6169), ⟨10.1126/science.1243480⟩, Science, 343(6169), 1. American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Sedimentary rocks at Yellowknife Bay (Gale crater) on Mars include mudstone sampled by the Curiosity rover. The samples, John Klein and Cumberland, contain detrital basaltic minerals, calcium sulfates, iron oxide or hydroxides, iron sulfides, amorphous material, and trioctahedral smectites. The John Klein smectite has basal spacing of ~10 angstroms, indicating little interlayer hydration. The Cumberland smectite has basal spacing at both ~13.2 and ~10 angstroms. The larger spacing suggests a partially chloritized interlayer or interlayer magnesium or calcium facilitating H 2 O retention. Basaltic minerals in the mudstone are similar to those in nearby eolian deposits. However, the mudstone has far less Fe-forsterite, possibly lost with formation of smectite plus magnetite. Late Noachian/Early Hesperian or younger age indicates that clay mineral formation on Mars extended beyond Noachian time.
- Subjects :
- Basalt
Geologic Sediments
Minerals
Multidisciplinary
Extraterrestrial Environment
Silicates
Silicon Compounds
Curiosity rover
Noachian
Mineralogy
[SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences
Mars
Mars Exploration Program
mudstone
Ferrosoferric Oxide
chemistry.chemical_compound
chemistry
Rocknest
Hesperian
Sedimentary rock
MSL
mineralogy
Clay minerals
Geology
Magnetite
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00368075 and 10959203
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Science, Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2014, 343 (6169), ⟨10.1126/science.1243480⟩, Science, 343(6169), 1. American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2d44acfabe38414c32df687e1087dc27
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1243480⟩