NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Confidence Hills Mineralogy and Chemin Results from Base of Mt. Sharp, Pahrump Hills, Gale Crater, MarsThe Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity recently completed its fourth drill sampling of sediments on Mars. The Confidence Hills (CH) sample was drilled from a rock located in the Pahrump Hills region at the base of Mt. Sharp in Gale Crater. The CheMin X-ray diffractometer completed five nights of analysis on the sample, more than previously executed for a drill sample, and the data have been analyzed using Rietveld refinement and full-pattern fitting to determine quantitative mineralogy. Confidence Hills mineralogy has several important characteristics: 1) abundant hematite and lesser magnetite; 2) a 10 angstrom phyllosilicate; 3) multiple feldspars including plagioclase and alkali feldspar; 4) mafic silicates including forsterite, orthopyroxene, and two types of clinopyroxene (Ca-rich and Ca-poor), consistent with a basaltic source; and 5) minor contributions from sulfur-bearing species including jarosite.
Document ID
20150002841
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Cavanagh, P. D.
(Indiana Univ. South Bend, IN, United States)
Bish, D. L.
(Indiana Univ. South Bend, IN, United States)
Blake, D. F.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Vaniman, D. T.
(Planetary Science Inst. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Morris, R. V.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Ming, D. W.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Rampe, E. B.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Achilles, C. N.
(Indiana Univ. South Bend, IN, United States)
Chipera, S. J.
(Chesapeake Energy Corp. Oklahoma City, OK, United States)
Treiman, A. H.
(Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Downs, R. T.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Morrison, S. M.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Fendrich, K. V.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Yen, A. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Grotzinger, J.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Crisp, J. A.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bristow, T. F.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Sarrazin, P. C.
(inXitu Mountain View, CA, United States)
Farmer, J. D.
(Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Des Marais, D. J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Stolper, E. M.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Morookian, J. M.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Wilson, M. A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Spanovich, N.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Anderson, R. C.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
March 12, 2015
Publication Date
March 16, 2015
Subject Category
Chemistry And Materials (General)
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-32870
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 16, 2015
End Date: March 20, 2015
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Inst., Universities Space Research Association, NASA Johnson Space Center
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available