Analysis of Iron-Containing Weathering Products in Serpentine Soils and Their Implications for Mars.

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

3-1-2018

Publication Title

49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018

First page number:

1

Last page number:

2

Abstract

Introduction: Abundant X-ray amorphous material has been detected at Gale Crater by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using CheMin. Approximately 27% - 40% Xray amorphous material [1,2] has been found intermixed with primary basaltic minerals at the Rocknest aeolian bedform. In XRD patterns, it was best fit by either basaltic glass or allophane (a hydrous aluminosilicate with a molar Si: Al ratio of typically 1:2 or 1:1), although it is believed based on chemical data to contain Fe [1,3]. The X-ray amorphous material is also volatile-rich based on Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM), which suggests that the amorphous material may contain secondary phases [1,2].

Disciplines

Astrophysics and Astronomy

Language

English


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