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Doctoral Dissertations

Spectroscopy

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Full-Text Articles in Astrophysics and Astronomy

Surface Modification Of Icy Satellites: Space Weathering Of The Large Moons Of Uranus And Alluvial Fan Formation On Saturn’S Moon Titan, Richard John Cartwright Aug 2017

Surface Modification Of Icy Satellites: Space Weathering Of The Large Moons Of Uranus And Alluvial Fan Formation On Saturn’S Moon Titan, Richard John Cartwright

Doctoral Dissertations

The surfaces of icy satellites are continually modified by space weathering and geologic processes. This dissertation explores the processes changing the surface compositions of the large moons of Uranus and mechanisms for development of possible alluvial fans on the Saturnian moon, Titan. On the Uranian satellites, I hypothesize that the origin and distribution of carbon dioxide ice results from charged particle bombardment, and that spectrally red material originated on retrograde irregular satellites. On Titan, I hypothesize that landforms identified as alluvial fans at low and mid latitudes were formed by sheetfloods, whereas possible alluvial fans at high latitudes were formed …


Characterizing Phyllosilicate Distribution, Abundance, And Origin On Mars, Christina Elizabeth Viviano May 2012

Characterizing Phyllosilicate Distribution, Abundance, And Origin On Mars, Christina Elizabeth Viviano

Doctoral Dissertations

Secondary phyllosilicates are hydrated minerals formed in the presence of liquid water. On Earth, their formation is often indicative of a neutral, water-rich environment, capable of supporting and preserving organic matter. Different phyllosilicate species may be produced in different pH levels and water-to-rock ratios. The identification of mineralogically diverse phyllosilicates in small, localized exposures on Mars provides a complex record of their formation processes. While discrete outcrops of phyllosilicates have been previously identified in high-resolution visible/near-infrared images of Mars, regional coverage of these phyllosilicate-rich areas at better resolution is limited. Furthermore, spectra of minerals in this wavelength range do not …