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Basaltic Soil of Gale Crater: Crystalline Component Compared to Martian Basalts and MeteoritesA significant portion of the soil of the Rocknest dune is crystalline and is consistent with derivation from unweathered basalt. Minerals and their compositions are identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) data from the CheMin instrument on MSL Curiosity. Basalt minerals in the soil include plagioclase, olivine, low- and high-calcium pyroxenes, magnetite, ilmenite, and quartz. The only minerals unlikely to have formed in an unaltered basalt are hematite and anhydrite. The mineral proportions and compositions of the Rocknest soil are nearly identical to those of the Adirondack-class basalts of Gusev Crater, Mars, inferred from their bulk composition as analyzed by the MER Spirit rover.
Document ID
20130009989
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Treiman, A. H. (Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Bish, D. L. (Indiana Univ. Bloomington, IN, United States)
Ming, D. W. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Morris, R. V. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Schmidt, M. (Brock Univ. Saint Catherines, Ontario, Canada)
Downs, R. T. (Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Stolper, E. M. (California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Blake, D. F. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Vaniman, D. T. (Planetary Science Inst. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Achilles, C. N. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Chipera, S. J. (Chesapeake Energy Corp. Oklahoma City, OK, United States)
Bristow, T. F. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Crisp, J. A. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Farmer, J. A. (Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Morookian, J. M. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Morrison, S. M. (Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Rampe, E. B. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Sarrazin, P. (inXitu Mountain View, CA, United States)
Yen, A. S. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Anderosn, R. C. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
DesMarais, D. J. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Spanovich, N. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 27, 2013
Publication Date
March 18, 2013
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-27905
Meeting Information
Meeting: 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 18, 2013
End Date: March 22, 2013
Sponsors: Universities Space Research Association, Lunar and Planetary Inst.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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