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An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils

Author

Listed:
  • Albert S. Yen

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Ralf Gellert

    (Max Planck Institut für Chemie)

  • Christian Schröder

    (Johannes Gutenberg University)

  • Richard V. Morris

    (NASA Johnson Space Center)

  • James F. Bell

    (Department of Astronomy)

  • Amy T. Knudson

    (Arizona State University)

  • Benton C. Clark

    (Lockheed Martin Corporation)

  • Douglas W. Ming

    (NASA Johnson Space Center)

  • Joy A. Crisp

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Raymond E. Arvidson

    (Washington University)

  • Diana Blaney

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Johannes Brückner

    (Max Planck Institut für Chemie)

  • Philip R. Christensen

    (Arizona State University)

  • David J. DesMarais

    (NASA Ames Research Center)

  • Paulo A. de Souza

    (Companhia Vale do Rio Doce)

  • Thanasis E. Economou

    (University of Chicago)

  • Amitabha Ghosh

    (University of Tennessee)

  • Brian C. Hahn

    (Department of Geosciences)

  • Kenneth E. Herkenhoff

    (US Geological Survey)

  • Larry A. Haskin

    (Washington University)

  • Joel A. Hurowitz

    (Department of Geosciences)

  • Bradley L. Joliff

    (Washington University)

  • Jeffrey R. Johnson

    (US Geological Survey)

  • Göstar Klingelhöfer

    (Johannes Gutenberg University)

  • Morten Bo Madsen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Scott M. McLennan

    (Department of Geosciences)

  • Harry Y. McSween

    (University of Tennessee)

  • Lutz Richter

    (DLR Institut für Raumsimulation)

  • Rudi Rieder

    (Max Planck Institut für Chemie)

  • Daniel Rodionov

    (Johannes Gutenberg University)

  • Larry Soderblom

    (US Geological Survey)

  • Steven W. Squyres

    (Department of Astronomy)

  • Nicholas J. Tosca

    (Department of Geosciences)

  • Alian Wang

    (Washington University)

  • Michael Wyatt

    (Arizona State University)

  • Jutta Zipfel

    (Max Planck Institut für Chemie)

Abstract

The mineralogical and elemental compositions of the martian soil are indicators of chemical and physical weathering processes. Using data from the Mars Exploration Rovers, we show that bright dust deposits on opposite sides of the planet are part of a global unit and not dominated by the composition of local rocks. Dark soil deposits at both sites have similar basaltic mineralogies, and could reflect either a global component or the general similarity in the compositions of the rocks from which they were derived. Increased levels of bromine are consistent with mobilization of soluble salts by thin films of liquid water, but the presence of olivine in analysed soil samples indicates that the extent of aqueous alteration of soils has been limited. Nickel abundances are enhanced at the immediate surface and indicate that the upper few millimetres of soil could contain up to one per cent meteoritic material.

Suggested Citation

  • Albert S. Yen & Ralf Gellert & Christian Schröder & Richard V. Morris & James F. Bell & Amy T. Knudson & Benton C. Clark & Douglas W. Ming & Joy A. Crisp & Raymond E. Arvidson & Diana Blaney & Johanne, 2005. "An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils," Nature, Nature, vol. 436(7047), pages 49-54, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:436:y:2005:i:7047:d:10.1038_nature03637
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03637
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    Cited by:

    1. Adomas Valantinas & John F. Mustard & Vincent Chevrier & Nicolas Mangold & Janice L. Bishop & Antoine Pommerol & Pierre Beck & Olivier Poch & Daniel M. Applin & Edward A. Cloutis & Takahiro Hiroi & Ke, 2025. "Detection of ferrihydrite in Martian red dust records ancient cold and wet conditions on Mars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.

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