Abstract
The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) on Opportunity investigated the mineral abundances and compositions of outcrops, rocks, and soils at Meridiani Planum. Coarse crystalline hematite and olivine-rich basaltic sands were observed as predicted from orbital TES spectroscopy. Outcrops of aqueous origin are composed of 15 to 35% by volume magnesium and calcium sulfates [a high-silica component modeled as a combination of glass, feldspar, and sheet silicates (∼20 to 30%)], and hematite; only minor jarosite is identified in Mini-TES spectra. Mini-TES spectra show only a hematite signature in the millimeter-sized spherules. Basaltic materials have more plagioclase than pyroxene, contain olivine, and are similar in inferred mineral composition to basalt mapped from orbit. Bounce rock is dominated by clinopyroxene and is close in inferred mineral composition to the basaltic martian meteorites. Bright wind streak material matches global dust. Waterlain rocks covered by unaltered basaltic sands suggest a change from an aqueous environment to one dominated by physical weathering.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1733-1739 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 306 |
Issue number | 5702 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 3 2004 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General
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Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES experiment on the opportunity rover. / Christensen, Philip; Wyatt, M. B.; Glotch, T. D.; Rogers, A. D.; Anwar, S.; Arvidson, R. E.; Bandfield, J. L.; Blaney, D. L.; Budney, C.; Calvin, W. M.; Fallacaro, A.; Fergason, R. L.; Gorelick, N.; Graff, T. G.; Hamilton, V. E.; Hayes, A. G.; Johnson, J. R.; Knudson, A. T.; McSween, H. Y.; Mehall, G. L.; Mehall, L. K.; Moersch, J. E.; Morris, R. V.; Smith, M. D.; Squyres, S. W.; Ruff, Steven; Wolff, M. J.
In: Science, Vol. 306, No. 5702, 03.12.2004, p. 1733-1739.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES experiment on the opportunity rover
AU - Christensen, Philip
AU - Wyatt, M. B.
AU - Glotch, T. D.
AU - Rogers, A. D.
AU - Anwar, S.
AU - Arvidson, R. E.
AU - Bandfield, J. L.
AU - Blaney, D. L.
AU - Budney, C.
AU - Calvin, W. M.
AU - Fallacaro, A.
AU - Fergason, R. L.
AU - Gorelick, N.
AU - Graff, T. G.
AU - Hamilton, V. E.
AU - Hayes, A. G.
AU - Johnson, J. R.
AU - Knudson, A. T.
AU - McSween, H. Y.
AU - Mehall, G. L.
AU - Mehall, L. K.
AU - Moersch, J. E.
AU - Morris, R. V.
AU - Smith, M. D.
AU - Squyres, S. W.
AU - Ruff, Steven
AU - Wolff, M. J.
PY - 2004/12/3
Y1 - 2004/12/3
N2 - The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) on Opportunity investigated the mineral abundances and compositions of outcrops, rocks, and soils at Meridiani Planum. Coarse crystalline hematite and olivine-rich basaltic sands were observed as predicted from orbital TES spectroscopy. Outcrops of aqueous origin are composed of 15 to 35% by volume magnesium and calcium sulfates [a high-silica component modeled as a combination of glass, feldspar, and sheet silicates (∼20 to 30%)], and hematite; only minor jarosite is identified in Mini-TES spectra. Mini-TES spectra show only a hematite signature in the millimeter-sized spherules. Basaltic materials have more plagioclase than pyroxene, contain olivine, and are similar in inferred mineral composition to basalt mapped from orbit. Bounce rock is dominated by clinopyroxene and is close in inferred mineral composition to the basaltic martian meteorites. Bright wind streak material matches global dust. Waterlain rocks covered by unaltered basaltic sands suggest a change from an aqueous environment to one dominated by physical weathering.
AB - The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) on Opportunity investigated the mineral abundances and compositions of outcrops, rocks, and soils at Meridiani Planum. Coarse crystalline hematite and olivine-rich basaltic sands were observed as predicted from orbital TES spectroscopy. Outcrops of aqueous origin are composed of 15 to 35% by volume magnesium and calcium sulfates [a high-silica component modeled as a combination of glass, feldspar, and sheet silicates (∼20 to 30%)], and hematite; only minor jarosite is identified in Mini-TES spectra. Mini-TES spectra show only a hematite signature in the millimeter-sized spherules. Basaltic materials have more plagioclase than pyroxene, contain olivine, and are similar in inferred mineral composition to basalt mapped from orbit. Bounce rock is dominated by clinopyroxene and is close in inferred mineral composition to the basaltic martian meteorites. Bright wind streak material matches global dust. Waterlain rocks covered by unaltered basaltic sands suggest a change from an aqueous environment to one dominated by physical weathering.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=10044224480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1126/science.1104909
DO - 10.1126/science.1104909
M3 - Article
C2 - 15576609
AN - SCOPUS:10044224480
VL - 306
SP - 1733
EP - 1739
JO - Science
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 5702
ER -