Evidence for platy hematite grains in Sinus Meridiani, Mars

Melissa D. Lane; Richard V. Morris; Stanley A. Mertzman; Philip R. Christensen

doi:10.1029/2001je001832

Evidence for platy hematite grains in Sinus Meridiani, Mars

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres ◽

10.1029/2001je001832 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 107 (E12) ◽

pp. 9-1-9-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Melissa D. Lane ◽

Richard V. Morris ◽

Stanley A. Mertzman ◽

Philip R. Christensen

Keyword(s):

Sinus Meridiani

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Nature and origin of materials exposed in the Oxia Palus-Western Arabia-Sinus Meridiani region, Mars

Icarus ◽

10.1016/0019-1035(88)90160-1 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 499-517 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

M.A. Presley ◽

R.E. Arvidson

Keyword(s):

Sinus Meridiani

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Martian Surface Composition as Determined by the MGS Thermal Emission Spectrometer

Highlights of Astronomy ◽

10.1017/s1539299600014477 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 636

Author(s):

Steve R. Ruff ◽

Philip R. Christensen ◽

Joshua L. Bandfield ◽

Victoria E. Hamilton ◽

Hugh H. Kieffer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Thermal Emission ◽

Surface Composition ◽

Martian Surface ◽

Hydrothermal Conditions ◽

Plagioclase Feldspar ◽

Water Ice ◽

Sheet Silicates ◽

Aram Chaos ◽

Sinus Meridiani

AbstractThe surface composition of Mars has been investigated using the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) instrument during the mapping phase of the Mars Global Surveyor mission. The TES has mapped ~85% of the Martian surface at a resolution of 3-9 km. Separation of the atmospheric dust, water-ice cloud, CO2, water vapor, and surface components has been accomplished using radiative transfer and deconvolution. Two distinct surface compositional units have been mapped; (1) a basalt with plagioclase feldspar, Ca-rich pyroxene, minor sheet silicates; and (2) a basaltic andesite with silica glass, plagioclase, and minor pyroxene. Three large-scale (100’s km) accumulations of hematite have been found in Sinus Meridiani, Aram Chaos and Ophir/Candor Chasms. These regions are interpreted to be formed by aqueous precipitation under either ambient or hydrothermal conditions. No surfaces with detectable abundances of carbonate have been found. The albedo of the surface has been mapped with an absolute accuracy of ~1-2% and significant changes in surface albedo have occurred from the orbital measurements obtained by the Viking IRTM instrument.

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