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 3 December 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5702, pp. 1733 - 1739
DOI: 10.1126/science.1104909
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Research Articles

Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover

P. R. Christensen,1* M. B. Wyatt,1 T. D. Glotch,1 A. D. Rogers,1 S. Anwar,1 R. E. Arvidson,2 J. L. Bandfield,1 D. L. Blaney,3 C. Budney,3 W. M. Calvin,4 A. Fallacaro,4 R. L. Fergason,1 N. Gorelick,1 T. G. Graff,1 V. E. Hamilton,5 A. G. Hayes,6 J. R. Johnson,7 A. T. Knudson,1 H. Y. McSween, Jr.,8 G. L. Mehall,1 L. K. Mehall,1 J. E. Moersch,8 R. V. Morris,9 M. D. Smith,10 S. W. Squyres,6 S. W. Ruff,1 M. J. Wolff11

The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) on Opportunity investigated the mineral abundances and compositions of outcrops, rocks, and soils at Meridiani Planum. Coarse crystalline hematite and olivine-rich basaltic sands were observed as predicted from orbital TES spectroscopy. Outcrops of aqueous origin are composed of 15 to 35% by volume magnesium and calcium sulfates [a high-silica component modeled as a combination of glass, feldspar, and sheet silicates (~20 to 30%)], and hematite; only minor jarosite is identified in Mini-TES spectra. Mini-TES spectra show only a hematite signature in the millimeter-sized spherules. Basaltic materials have more plagioclase than pyroxene, contain olivine, and are similar in inferred mineral composition to basalt mapped from orbit. Bounce rock is dominated by clinopyroxene and is close in inferred mineral composition to the basaltic martian meteorites. Bright wind streak material matches global dust. Waterlain rocks covered by unaltered basaltic sands suggest a change from an aqueous environment to one dominated by physical weathering.

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, 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:
Hydrothermal synthesis of hematite spherules and jarosite: Implications for diagenesis and hematite spherule formation in sulfate outcrops at Meridiani Planum, Mars.
D.C. Golden, D.W. Ming, R.V. Morris, and T.G. Graff (2008)
American Mineralogist 93, 1201-1214
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Planetary science: Multiple data sets, multiple scales, and unlocking the third dimension.
P. Martin and E. R. Stofan (2007)
Geosphere 3, 435-455
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Using a mineral lifetime diagram to evaluate the persistence of olivine on Mars.
A. A. Olsen and J. D. Rimstidt (2007)
American Mineralogist 92, 598-602
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Iron isotopes constrain the pathways and formation mechanisms of terrestrial oxide concretions: A tool for tracing iron cycling on Mars?.
M. A. Chan, C. M. Johnson, B. L. Beard, J. R. Bowman, and W.T. Parry (2006)
Geosphere 2, 324-332
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Crystal molds on Mars: Melting of a possible new mineral species to create Martian chaotic terrain.
R. C. Peterson and R. Wang (2006)
Geology 34, 957-960
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence for Water at Meridiani.
B. L. Jolliff, S. M. McLennan, and the Athena Science Team (2006)
Elements 2, 163-167
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Martian analog in Kansas: Comparing Martian strata with Permian acid saline lake deposits.
K. C. Benison (2006)
Geology 34, 385-388
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Cracks and fins in sulfate sand: Evidence for recent mineral-atmospheric water cycling in Meridiani Planum outcrops?.
G. V. Chavdarian and D. Y. Sumner (2006)
Geology 34, 229-232
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The visible and infrared spectral properties of jarosite and alunite.
J. L. Bishop and E. Murad (2005)
American Mineralogist 90, 1100-1107
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Spectral Reflectance and Morphologic Correlations in Eastern Terra Meridiani, Mars.
R. E. Arvidson, F. Poulet, J.-P. Bibring, M. Wolff, A. Gendrin, R. V. Morris, J. J. Freeman, Y. Langevin, N. Mangold, and G. Bellucci (2005)
Science 307, 1591-1594
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Opportunity Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Meridiani Planum, 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 306, 1698-1703
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pancam Multispectral Imaging Results from the Opportunity Rover at Meridiani Planum.
J. F. Bell III, S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, H. M. Arneson, D. Bass, W. Calvin, W. H. Farrand, W. Goetz, M. Golombek, R. Greeley, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1703-1709
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In Situ Evidence for an Ancient Aqueous Environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars.
S. W. Squyres, J. P. Grotzinger, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J. A. Crisp, W. H. Farrand, K. E. Herkenhoff, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1709-1714
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Soils of Eagle Crater and Meridiani Planum at the Opportunity Rover Landing Site.
L. A. Soderblom, R. C. Anderson, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, N. A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, T. Economou, B. L. Ehlmann, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1723-1726
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum.
K. E. Herkenhoff, S. W. Squyres, R. Arvidson, D. S. Bass, J. F. Bell III, P. Bertelsen, B. L. Ehlmann, W. Farrand, L. Gaddis, R. Greeley, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1727-1730
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Localization and Physical Property Experiments Conducted by Opportunity at Meridiani Planum.
R. E. Arvidson, R. C. Anderson, P. Bartlett, J. F. Bell III, P. R. Christensen, P. Chu, K. Davis, B. L. Ehlmann, M. P. Golombek, S. Gorevan, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1730-1733
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Jarosite and Hematite at Meridiani Planum from Opportunity's Mossbauer Spectrometer.
G. Klingelhofer, R. V. Morris, B. Bernhardt, C. Schroder, D. S. Rodionov, P. A. de Souza Jr., A. Yen, R. Gellert, E. N. Evlanov, B. Zubkov, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1740-1745
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

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