Mineralogy on Mars at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum as seen by iron Mossbauer spectroscopy

Citation

Klingelhoefer G, Morris RV, Yen A, Ming DW, Schröder C & Rodionov DS (2006) Mineralogy on Mars at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum as seen by iron Mossbauer spectroscopy. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 70 (S18), pp. A325-A325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2006.06.656

Abstract
The Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity have explored the Martian surface at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum for more than two Earth years. More than 15 different minerals have been identified so far by the Mo¨ssbauer instruments on board the two rovers (Morris et al., 2004; Klingelhofer et al., 2004; Morris et al., 2006). Mo¨ssbauer spectroscopy identified the secondary Fe3+-bearing minerals jarosite, hematite, and nanophase iron oxides in the sulfate-rich outcrop rocks at Meridiani Planum (Klingelhofer et al., 2004). Pyroxene may be a remnant primary Fe2+-bearing mineral. No precursor material to the sulfate-rich outcrop has been identified to date, but it has been inferred to be basaltic in composition (McLennan et al., 2005; Tosca et al., 2005)

Journal
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: Volume 70, Issue S18

People

Dr Christian Schroeder

Senior Lecturer, Biological and Environmental Sciences