Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 6 August 2004:
Vol. 305. no. 5685, pp. 837 - 842
DOI: 10.1126/science.1100564
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Research Articles

Initial Results from the Mini-TES Experiment in Gusev Crater from the Spirit Rover

P. R. Christensen,1* S. W. Ruff,1 R. L. Fergason,1 A. T. Knudson,1 S. Anwar,1 R. E. Arvidson,2 J. L. Bandfield,1 D. L. Blaney,3 C. Budney,3 W. M. Calvin,4 T. D. Glotch,1 M. P. Golombek,3 N. Gorelick,1 T. G. Graff,1 V. E. Hamilton,5 A. Hayes,6 J. R. Johnson,7 H. Y. McSween, Jr.,8 G. L. Mehall,1 L. K. Mehall,1 J. E. Moersch,8 R. V. Morris,9 A. D. Rogers,1 M. D. Smith,10 S. W. Squyres,6 M. J. Wolff,11 M. B. Wyatt1

The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) on Spirit has studied the mineralogy and thermophysical properties at Gusev crater. Undisturbed soil spectra show evidence for minor carbonates and bound water. Rocks are olivinerich basalts with varying degrees of dust and other coatings. Dark-toned soils observed on disturbed surfaces may be derived from rocks and have derived mineralogy (±5 to 10%) of 45% pyroxene (20% Ca-rich pyroxene and 25% pigeonite), 40% sodic to intermediate plagioclase, and 15% olivine (forsterite 45% ±5 to 10). Two spectrally distinct coatings are observed on rocks, a possible indicator of the interaction of water, rock, and airfall dust. Diurnal temperature data indicate particle sizes from 40 to 80 µm in hollows to ~0.5 to 3 mm in soils.

1 Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
2 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
3 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
4 Department of Geological Science, University of Nevada Reno, NV 89557, USA.
5 Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
6 Department of Astronomy, Space Sciences Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
7 U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA.
8 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
9 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA.
10 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA.
11 Space Science Institute, Martinez, GA 30907, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: phil.christensen{at}asu.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Evidence for Calcium Carbonate at the Mars Phoenix Landing Site.
W. V. Boynton, D. W. Ming, S. P. Kounaves, S. M. M. Young, R. E. Arvidson, M. H. Hecht, J. Hoffman, P. B. Niles, D. K. Hamara, R. C. Quinn, et al. (2009)
Science 325, 61-64
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
CHARACTERIZATION OF ALTERATION PRODUCTS IN TEPHRA FROM HALEAKALA, MAUI: A VISIBLE-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY, MOSSBAUER SPECTROSCOPY, XRD, EMPA AND TEM STUDY.
J. L. Bishop, P. Schiffman, E. Murad, M. D. Dyar, A. Drief, and M. D. Lane (2007)
Clays and Clay Minerals 55, 1-17
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mars Exploration Rover Geologic traverse by the Spirit rover in the Plains of Gusev Crater, Mars.
L.S. Crumpler, S.W. Squyres, R.E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, III, D. Blaney, N.A. Cabrol, P.R. Christensen, D.J. DesMarais, J.D. Farmer, R. Fergason, et al. (2005)
Geology 33, 809-812
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover.
P. R. Christensen, M. B. Wyatt, T. D. Glotch, A. D. Rogers, S. Anwar, R. E. Arvidson, J. L. Bandfield, D. L. Blaney, C. Budney, W. M. Calvin, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1733-1739
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Spirit Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Gusev Crater, Mars.
S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, J. Bruckner, N. A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, M. H. Carr, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, L. Crumpler, et al. (2004)
Science 305, 794-799
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Surficial Deposits at Gusev Crater Along Spirit Rover Traverses.
J. A. Grant, R. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, N. A. Cabrol, M. H. Carr, P. Christensen, L. Crumpler, D. J. Des Marais, B. L. Ehlmann, J. Farmer, et al. (2004)
Science 305, 807-810
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wind-Related Processes Detected by the Spirit Rover at Gusev Crater, Mars.
R. Greeley, S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, P. Bartlett, J. F. Bell III, D. Blaney, N. A. Cabrol, J. Farmer, B. Farrand, M. P. Golombek, et al. (2004)
Science 305, 810-813
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Localization and Physical Properties Experiments Conducted by Spirit at Gusev Crater.
R. E. Arvidson, R. C. Anderson, P. Bartlett, J. F. Bell III, D. Blaney, P. R. Christensen, P. Chu, L. Crumpler, K. Davis, B. L. Ehlmann, et al. (2004)
Science 305, 821-824
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit's Microscopic Imager.
K. E. Herkenhoff, S. W. Squyres, R. Arvidson, D. S. Bass, J. F. Bell III, P. Bertelsen, N. A. Cabrol, L. Gaddis, A. G. Hayes, S. F. Hviid, et al. (2004)
Science 305, 824-826
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mineralogy at Gusev Crater from the Mossbauer Spectrometer on the Spirit Rover.
R. V. Morris, G. Klingelhofer, B. Bernhardt, C. Schroder, D. S. Rodionov, P. A. de Souza Jr., A. Yen, R. Gellert, E. N. Evlanov, J. Foh, et al. (2004)
Science 305, 833-836
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Basaltic Rocks Analyzed by the Spirit Rover in Gusev Crater.
H. Y. McSween, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, D. Blaney, N. A. Cabrol, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J. A. Crisp, L. S. Crumpler, D. J. Des Marais, et al. (2004)
Science 305, 842-845
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)