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Mineralogy of the light-toned outcrop at Meridiani Planum as seen by the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer and implications for its formation
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
Department of Geosciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, USA
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, Colorado, USA
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
Analysis of Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) data has led to the recovery of a pure end-member spectral shape related to the light-toned outcrop observed at Meridiani Planum. Data from the MER Mössbauer spectrometer, APXS, and previous Mini-TES measurements were used to constrain a spectral library used to determine the mineralogy of the outcrop from this spectral shape. Linear deconvolution of the outcrop spectral shape suggests that it is composed primarily of Al-rich opaline silica, Mg-, Ca-, and Fe-bearing sulfates, plagioclase feldspar, nontronite, and hematite. Conversion of modeled mineralogy to chemistry shows good agreement with the chemical composition of the outcrops determined by APXS. Details of the analysis procedure and implications for the formation of the outcrop are discussed along with terrestrial analogs of the ancient environment at Meridiani.
Received 29 December 2005; accepted 13 April 2006; published 7 September 2006.
Citation: (2006), Mineralogy of the light-toned outcrop at Meridiani Planum as seen by the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer and implications for its formation, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E12S03, doi:10.1029/2005JE002672.
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