Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars

H. Y. McSween; Michael B. Wyatt; R. Gellert; James Bell; Richard V. Morris; K. E. Herkenhoff; Larry S. Crumpler; K. A. Milam; K. R. Stockstill; L. L. Tornabene; R. E. Arvidson; P. Bartlett; D. Blaney; N. A. Cabrol; Philip Christensen; Benton C. Clark; Joy A. Crisp; David J. Des Marais; T. Economou; Jack Farmer; W. Farrand; A. Ghosh; Matt Golombek; S. Gorevan; R. Greeley; V. E. Hamilton; J. R. Johnson; B. L. Joliff; G. Klingelhöfer; Amy T. Knudson; Scott McLennan; Douglas Ming; J. E. Moersch; R. Rieder; Steven Ruff; C. Schrörder; Jr A. de Souza; S. W. Squyres; H. Wänke; Alian Wang; Albert Yen; J. Zipfel

doi:10.1029/2005JE002477

Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars

H. Y. McSween, Michael B. Wyatt, R. Gellert, James Bell, Richard V. Morris, K. E. Herkenhoff, Larry S. Crumpler, K. A. Milam, K. R. Stockstill, L. L. Tornabene, R. E. Arvidson, P. Bartlett, D. Blaney, N. A. Cabrol, Philip Christensen, Benton C. Clark, Joy A. Crisp, David J. Des Marais, T. Economou, Jack FarmerW. Farrand, A. Ghosh, Matt Golombek, S. Gorevan, R. Greeley, V. E. Hamilton, J. R. Johnson, B. L. Joliff, G. Klingelhöfer, Amy T. Knudson, Scott McLennan, Douglas Ming, J. E. Moersch, R. Rieder, Steven Ruff, C. Schrörder, Jr A. de Souza, S. W. Squyres, H. Wänke, Alian Wang, Albert Yen, J. Zipfel

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Abstract

Rocks 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.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	E02S10
Journal	Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Volume	111
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JE002477
State	Published - Feb 20 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geochemistry and Petrology
Geophysics
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1029/2005JE002477

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McSween, H. Y., Wyatt, M. B., Gellert, R., Bell, J., Morris, R. V., Herkenhoff, K. E., Crumpler, L. S., Milam, K. A., Stockstill, K. R., Tornabene, L. L., Arvidson, R. E., Bartlett, P., Blaney, D., Cabrol, N. A., Christensen, P., Clark, B. C., Crisp, J. A., Des Marais, D. J., Economou, T., ... Zipfel, J. (2006). Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 111(2), Article E02S10. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JE002477

McSween, HY, Wyatt, MB, Gellert, R, Bell, J, Morris, RV, Herkenhoff, KE, Crumpler, LS, Milam, KA, Stockstill, KR, Tornabene, LL, Arvidson, RE, Bartlett, P, Blaney, D, Cabrol, NA, Christensen, P, Clark, BC, Crisp, JA, Des Marais, DJ, Economou, T, Farmer, J, Farrand, W, Ghosh, A, Golombek, M, Gorevan, S, Greeley, R, Hamilton, VE, Johnson, JR, Joliff, BL, Klingelhöfer, G, Knudson, AT, McLennan, S, Ming, D, Moersch, JE, Rieder, R, Ruff, S, Schrörder, C, de Souza, JA, Squyres, SW, Wänke, H, Wang, A, Yen, A & Zipfel, J 2006, 'Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars', Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, vol. 111, no. 2, E02S10. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JE002477

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title = "Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars",

abstract = "Rocks 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.",

author = "McSween, {H. Y.} and Wyatt, {Michael B.} and R. Gellert and James Bell and Morris, {Richard V.} and Herkenhoff, {K. E.} and Crumpler, {Larry S.} and Milam, {K. A.} and Stockstill, {K. R.} and Tornabene, {L. L.} and Arvidson, {R. E.} and P. Bartlett and D. Blaney and Cabrol, {N. A.} and Philip Christensen and Clark, {Benton C.} and Crisp, {Joy A.} and {Des Marais}, {David J.} and T. Economou and Jack Farmer and W. Farrand and A. Ghosh and Matt Golombek and S. Gorevan and R. Greeley and Hamilton, {V. E.} and Johnson, {J. R.} and Joliff, {B. L.} and G. Klingelh{\"o}fer and Knudson, {Amy T.} and Scott McLennan and Douglas Ming and Moersch, {J. E.} and R. Rieder and Steven Ruff and C. Schr{\"o}rder and {de Souza}, {Jr A.} and Squyres, {S. W.} and H. W{\"a}nke and Alian Wang and Albert Yen and J. Zipfel",

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doi = "10.1029/2005JE002477",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "111",

journal = "Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets",

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T1 - Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars

AU - McSween, H. Y.

AU - Wyatt, Michael B.

AU - Gellert, R.

AU - Bell, James

AU - Morris, Richard V.

AU - Herkenhoff, K. E.

AU - Crumpler, Larry S.

AU - Milam, K. A.

AU - Stockstill, K. R.

AU - Tornabene, L. L.

AU - Arvidson, R. E.

AU - Bartlett, P.

AU - Blaney, D.

AU - Cabrol, N. A.

AU - Christensen, Philip

AU - Clark, Benton C.

AU - Crisp, Joy A.

AU - Des Marais, David J.

AU - Economou, T.

AU - Farmer, Jack

AU - Farrand, W.

AU - Ghosh, A.

AU - Golombek, Matt

AU - Gorevan, S.

AU - Greeley, R.

AU - Hamilton, V. E.

AU - Johnson, J. R.

AU - Joliff, B. L.

AU - Klingelhöfer, G.

AU - Knudson, Amy T.

AU - McLennan, Scott

AU - Ming, Douglas

AU - Moersch, J. E.

AU - Rieder, R.

AU - Ruff, Steven

AU - Schrörder, C.

AU - de Souza, Jr A.

AU - Squyres, S. W.

AU - Wänke, H.

AU - Wang, Alian

AU - Yen, Albert

AU - Zipfel, J.

PY - 2006/2/20

Y1 - 2006/2/20

N2 - Rocks 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.

AB - Rocks 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.

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Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars

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