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Characterization and Petrologic Interpretation of Olivine-Rich Basalts at Gusev Crater, MarsRocks on the floor of Gusev crater are basalts of uniform composition and mineralogy. Olivine, the only mineral to have been identified or inferred from data by all instruments on the Spirit rover, is especially abundant in these rocks. These picritic basalts are similar in many respects to certain Martian meteorites (olivine-phyric shergottites). The olivine megacrysts in both have intermediate compositions, with modal abundances ranging up to 20-30%. Associated minerals in both include low-calcium and high-calcium pyroxenes, plagioclase of intermediate composition, iron-titanium-chromium oxides, and phosphate. These rocks also share minor element trends, reflected in their nickel-magnesium and chromium-magnesium ratios. Gusev basalts and shergottites appear to have formed from primitive magmas produced by melting an undepleted mantle at depth and erupted without significant fractionation. However, apparent differences between Gusev rocks and shergottites in their ages, plagioclase abundances, and volatile contents preclude direct correlation. Orbital determinations of global olivine distribution and compositions by thermal emission spectroscopy suggest that olivine-rich rocks may be widespread. Because weathering under acidic conditions preferentially attacks olivine and disguises such rocks beneath alteration rinds, picritic basalts formed from primitive magmas may even be a common component of the Martian crust formed during ancient and recent times.
Document ID
20080026098
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
McSween, H. Y. (Tennessee Univ. Knoxville, TN, United States)
Wyatt, M. B. (Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Gellert, R. (Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Chemie Mainz, Germany)
Bell, J. F., III (Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Morris, R. V. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Herkenhoff, K. E. (Geological Survey Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Crumpler, L. S. (New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Albuquerque, NM, United States)
Milam, K. A. (Tennessee Univ. Knoxville, TN, United States)
Stockstill, K. R. (Tennessee Univ. Knoxville, TN, United States)
Tornabene, L. L. (Tennessee Univ. Knoxville, TN, United States)
Arvidson, R. E. (Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Bartlett, P. (Honeybee Robotics Ltd. New York, NY, United States)
Blaney, D. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Cabrol, N. A. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Christensen, P. R. (Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Clark, B. C. (Lockheed Martin Corp. Littleton, CO, United States)
Crisp, A. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
DesMarais, D. J. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Economou, T. (Chicago Univ. Chicago, IL, United States)
Farmer, J. D. (Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Farrand, W. (Space Science Inst. Boulder, CO, United States)
Ghosh, A. (Tennessee Univ. Knoxville, TN, United States)
Golombek, M. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Gorevan, S. (Honeybee Robotics Ltd. New York, NY, United States)
Greeley, R. (Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2006
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-12896
WBS: WBS 361426.04.05
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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