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 Marias; J.D. Farmer; Ralf Gellert; A. Ghosh; S. Gorevan; T. Graff; J. Grant; L.A. Haskin; Kenneth E. Herkenhoff; J. R. Johnson; B.L. Jolliff; G. Klingelhoefer; A.T. Knudson; S. McLennan; K.A. Milam; J.E. Moersch; R.V. Morris; R. Rieder; S. W. Ruff; P.A. De Souza Jr.; S. W. Squyres; H. Wanke; A. Wang; M.B. Wyatt; A. Yen; J. Zipfel

doi:10.1126/science.1099851

Basaltic rocks analyzed by the Spirit rover in Gusev crater

Science

By: 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 Marias, J.D. Farmer, Ralf Gellert, A. Ghosh, S. Gorevan, T. Graff, J. Grant, L.A. Haskin, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, B.L. Jolliff, G. Klingelhoefer, A.T. Knudson, S. McLennan, K.A. Milam, J.E. Moersch, R.V. Morris, R. Rieder, S. W. Ruff, P.A. De Souza Jr., S. W. Squyres, H. Wanke, A. Wang, M.B. Wyatt, A. Yen, and J. Zipfel

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1099851

Links

More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

The Spirit landing site in Gusev Crater on Mars contains dark, fine-grained, vesicular rocks interpreted as lavas. Pancam and Mini–Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) spectra suggest that all of these rocks are similar but have variable coatings and dust mantles. Magnified images of brushed and abraded rock surfaces show alteration rinds and veins. Rock interiors contain ≤25% megacrysts. Chemical analyses of rocks by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer are consistent with picritic basalts, containing normative olivine, pyroxenes, plagioclase, and accessory FeTi oxides. Mössbauer, Pancam, and Mini-TES spectra confirm the presence of olivine, magnetite, and probably pyroxene. These basalts extend the known range of rock compositions composing the martian crust.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Basaltic rocks analyzed by the Spirit rover in Gusev crater
Series title	Science
DOI	10.1126/science.1099851
Volume	305
Issue	5685
Year Published	2004
Language	English
Publisher	American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	4 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Science
First page	842
Last page	845
Other Geospatial	Gusev crater; Mars
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page