Mineralogic constraints on sulfur-rich soils from Pancam spectra at Gusev crater, Mars

J. R. Johnson, III F. Bell, E. Cloutis, M. Staid, W. H. Farrand, T. McCoy, M. Rice, Alian Wang, Albert Yen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

87 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Spirit excavated sulfur-rich soils exhibiting high albedo and relatively white to yellow colors at three main locations on and south of Husband Hill in Gusev crater, Mars. The multispectral visible/near-infrared properties of these disturbed soils revealed by the Pancam stereo color camera vary appreciably over small spatial scales, but exhibit spectral features suggestive of ferric sulfates. Spectral mixture models constrain the mineralogy of these soils to include ferric sulfates in various states of hydration, such as ferricopiapite [Fe2/32+Fe43+ (SO4)6(OH)2·20(H2O)], hydronium jarosite [(H3O)Fe33+ (SO4)2(OH)6], fibroferrite [Fe3+(SO4)(OH)·5(H2O)], rhomboclase [HFe3+(SO4)2·4 (H2O)], and paracoquimbite [Fe23+ (SO4)3.9(H2O)].

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL13202
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume34
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 16 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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