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Full-Text Articles in Earth Sciences
New Mineralogical And Geochemical Characterization Of Martian Meteorites: Implications For Habitability And Astrobiological Exploration Of Mars, Jared N. Shivak
New Mineralogical And Geochemical Characterization Of Martian Meteorites: Implications For Habitability And Astrobiological Exploration Of Mars, Jared N. Shivak
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Mars is thought to have shared many similarities with the Earth during its history, leading to extensive research into the potential for life to arise on Mars. Here, a thorough mineralogical and geochemical characterization of primary and secondary phases in Martian meteorites Los Angeles, Zagami, and Nakhla was performed. This novel approach assesses their potential to host life and build on previous studies that focused on either astrobiological or geological factors. These meteorites were found to contain abundant iron-rich phases that can act as microbial substrates. Investigation of alteration phases in Nakhla allowed for the identification of a new secondary …
A Multispectral Assessment Of Complex Impact Craters On The Lunar Farside, Bhairavi Shankar
A Multispectral Assessment Of Complex Impact Craters On The Lunar Farside, Bhairavi Shankar
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Hypervelocity collisions of asteroids onto planetary bodies have catastrophic effects on the target rocks through the process of shock metamorphism. The resulting features, impact craters, are circular depressions with a sharp rim surrounded by an ejecta blanket of variably shocked rocks. With increasing impact energy, the inner crater cavity can preserve complex morphologies including terraced walls, central uplifts, and melted rocks. The lack of erosion due to the absence of water or an atmosphere makes the Moon the perfect target to study impact crater processes, in particular the distribution of highly shocked materials within impact craters of different sizes. …