Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity's first three extended missions

Kenneth E. Herkenhoff; John P. Grotzinger; Andrew H. Knoll; Scott M. McLennan; Catherine M. Weitz; Aileen Yingst; Robert Anderson; Brent A. Archinal; Raymond E. Arvidson; Janet M. Barrett; Kris J. Becker; James F. Bell; Charles Budney; Mary G. Chapman; Debbie Cook; Bethany L. Ehlmann; Brenda Franklin; Lisa R. Gaddis; Donna M. Galuszka; Patricia A. Garcia; Paul E. Geissler; Trent M. Hare; Elpitha Howington-Kraus; Jeffrey R. Johnson; Laszlo P. Keszthelyi; Randolph L. Kirk; Peter Lanagan; Ella M. Lee; Craig Leff; Justin N. Maki; Kevin F. Mullins; Timothy J. Parker; Bonnie L. Redding; Mark R. Rosiek; Michael H. Sims; Laurence A. Soderblom; Nicole Spanovich; Richard Springer; Steven W. Squyres; Daniel A. Stolper; Robert M. Sucharski; Tracie L. Sucharski; Robert Sullivan; James M. Torson

doi:10.1029/2008JE003100

Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity's first three extended missions

Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets

By: Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, John P. Grotzinger, Andrew H. Knoll, Scott M. McLennan, Catherine M. Weitz, Aileen Yingst, Robert Anderson, Brent A. Archinal, Raymond E. Arvidson, Janet M. Barrett, Kris J. Becker, James F. Bell, Charles Budney, Mary G. Chapman, Debbie Cook, Bethany L. Ehlmann, Brenda Franklin, Lisa R. Gaddis, Donna M. Galuszka, Patricia A. Garcia, Paul E. Geissler, Trent M. Hare, Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Randolph L. Kirk, Peter Lanagan, Ella M. Lee, Craig Leff, Justin N. Maki, Kevin F. Mullins, Timothy J. Parker, Bonnie L. Redding, Mark R. Rosiek, Michael H. Sims, Laurence A. Soderblom, Nicole Spanovich, Richard Springer, Steven W. Squyres, Daniel A. Stolper, Robert M. Sucharski, Tracie L. Sucharski, Robert Sullivan, and James M. Torson

https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JE003100

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Abstract

The Microscopic Imager (MI) on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has returned images of Mars with higher resolution than any previous camera system, allowing detailed petrographic and sedimentological studies of the rocks and soils at the Meridiani Planum landing site. Designed to simulate a geologist's hand lens, the MI is mounted on Opportunity's instrument arm and can resolve objects 0.1 mm across or larger. This paper provides an overview of MI operations, data calibration, and analysis of MI data returned during the first 900 sols (Mars days) of the Opportunity landed mission. Analyses of Opportunity MI data have helped to resolve major questions about the origin of observed textures and features. These studies support eolian sediment transport, rather than impact surge processes, as the dominant depositional mechanism for Burns formation strata. MI stereo observations of a rock outcrop near the rim of Erebus Crater support the previous interpretation of similar sedimentary structures in Eagle Crater as being formed by surficial flow of liquid water. Well‐sorted spherules dominate ripple surfaces on the Meridiani plains, and the size of spherules between ripples decreases by about 1 mm from north to south along Opportunity's traverse between Endurance and Erebus craters.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity's first three extended missions
Series title	Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
DOI	10.1029/2008JE003100
Volume	113
Issue	E12
Year Published	2008
Language	English
Publisher	American Geophysical Union
Publisher location	Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	E12S32; 39 p.
First page	1
Last page	39
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