TY - JOUR
T1 - Mineralogy of the light-toned outcrop at Meridiani Planum as seen by the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer and implications for its formation
AU - Glotch, Timothy D.
AU - Bandfield, Joshua L.
AU - Christensen, Philip
AU - Calvin, Wendy M.
AU - McLennan, Scott M.
AU - Clark, Benton C.
AU - Rogers, A. Deanne
AU - Squyres, Steven W.
PY - 2006/12/20
Y1 - 2006/12/20
N2 - Analysis of Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) data has led to the recovery of a pure end-member spectral shape related to the light-toned outcrop observed at Meridiani Planum. Data from the MER Mössbauer spectrometer, APXS, and previous Mini-TES measurements were used to constrain a spectral library used to determine the mineralogy of the outcrop from this spectral shape. Linear deconvolution of the outcrop spectral shape suggests that it is composed primarily of Al-rich opaline silica, Mg-, Ca-, and Fe-bearing sulfates, plagioclase feldspar, nontronite, and hematite. Conversion of modeled mineralogy to chemistry shows good agreement with the chemical composition of the outcrops determined by APXS. Details of the analysis procedure and implications for the formation of the outcrop are discussed along with terrestrial analogs of the ancient environment at Meridiani.
AB - Analysis of Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) data has led to the recovery of a pure end-member spectral shape related to the light-toned outcrop observed at Meridiani Planum. Data from the MER Mössbauer spectrometer, APXS, and previous Mini-TES measurements were used to constrain a spectral library used to determine the mineralogy of the outcrop from this spectral shape. Linear deconvolution of the outcrop spectral shape suggests that it is composed primarily of Al-rich opaline silica, Mg-, Ca-, and Fe-bearing sulfates, plagioclase feldspar, nontronite, and hematite. Conversion of modeled mineralogy to chemistry shows good agreement with the chemical composition of the outcrops determined by APXS. Details of the analysis procedure and implications for the formation of the outcrop are discussed along with terrestrial analogs of the ancient environment at Meridiani.
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U2 - 10.1029/2005JE002672
DO - 10.1029/2005JE002672
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34447543686
SN - 0148-0227
VL - 111
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
IS - 12
M1 - E12S03
ER -