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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Dissolution Rates Of Allophane, Fe-Allophane, And Hisingerite And Implications For Aqueous Alteration On Mars And In Potential Returned Martian Samples, S. J. Ralston
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Recent measurements from Mars document X-ray amorphous/nano-crystalline materials in multiple locations across the planet. However, despite their prevalence, little is known about these materials or what their presence implies for the history of Mars. The amorphous component of the martian soil in Gale Crater has an X-ray diffraction pattern that can be partially fit with allophane (approximately Al2O3•(SiO2)1.3-2•(H2O)2.5-3), as well as low-temperature water release consistent with allophane. The chemical data from Gale Crater suggest that other silicate phases similar to allophane, such as Fe-substituted allophane (here, approximately (Fe2O3)0.01(Al2O3)0.99(SiO2)2•3H2O) and hisingerite (approximately Fe3+2Si2O5(OH)4•(H2O)), may also be present. In order to investigate …
Formation Of Evolved Rocks At Gale Crater By Crystal Fractionation And Implications For Mars Crustal Composition, Arya Udry, Esteban Gazel, Harry Y. Mcsween Jr.
Formation Of Evolved Rocks At Gale Crater By Crystal Fractionation And Implications For Mars Crustal Composition, Arya Udry, Esteban Gazel, Harry Y. Mcsween Jr.
Geoscience Faculty Publications
The recent discovery of some ancient evolved rocks in Gale crater by the Curiosity rover has prompted the hypothesis that continental crust formed in early Martian history. Here we present petrological modeling that attempts to explain this lithological diversity by magma fractionation. Using the thermodynamical software MELTS, we model fractional crystallization of different Martian starting compositions that might generate felsic igneous compositions like those analyzed at Gale crater using different variables, such as pressure, oxygen fugacities, and water content. We show that similar chemical and mineralogical compositions observed in Gale crater felsic rocks can readily be obtained through different degrees …
Craters Of The Moon National Monument Basalts As Unshocked Compositional And Weathering Analogs For Martian Rocks And Meteorites, Christopher T. Adcock, Arya Udry, Elisabeth M. Hausrath, Oliver Tschauner
Craters Of The Moon National Monument Basalts As Unshocked Compositional And Weathering Analogs For Martian Rocks And Meteorites, Christopher T. Adcock, Arya Udry, Elisabeth M. Hausrath, Oliver Tschauner
Geoscience Faculty Publications
The availability of terrestrial sites that are martian analogs allows researchers to investigate Mars using knowledge gained on Earth. Among the terrestrial analog sites for Mars is Craters of the Moon National Monument (COTM) in Idaho, U.S.A. Craters of the Moon National Monument is home to over 60 basalt lava flows, many of which have been dated from 2050 to 18 340 years before present (y.b.p.). Following previous authors, we examined the chemistry and petrogenesis of COTM basalts compared to basaltic martian rocks, martian meteorites, and meteorite clasts, and then examined the results of chemical weathering of the basaltic flows. …