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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets

 

Keywords

  • Mars
  • clay
  • water

Index Terms

  • Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Mars
  • Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Hydrology and fluvial processes
  • Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Erosion and weathering
  • Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Composition
  • Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Surface materials and properties
Abstract
Cited By (5)
 

Abstract

Mineralogy of the Nili Fossae region with OMEGA/Mars Express data: 2. Aqueous alteration of the crust

N. Mangold

Laboratoire IDES, UMR8148 CNRS and Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

F. Poulet

Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS/Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

J. F. Mustard

Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

J.-P. Bibring

Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS/Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

B. Gondet

Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS/Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

Y. Langevin

Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS/Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

V. Ansan

Laboratoire IDES, UMR8148 CNRS and Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

Ph. Masson

Laboratoire IDES, UMR8148 CNRS and Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

C. Fassett

Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

J. W. Head III

Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

H. Hoffmann

Institut für Weltraumsensorik, DLR, Berlin, Germany

G. Neukum

Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Nili Fossae is a region with fresh exposures of old material. OMEGA spectral data have revealed a strong diversity of minerals in the Nili Fossae region, including mafic minerals and phyllosilicates. Phyllosilicates are found to be primarily Fe-rich smectites (a type of clay minerals). These phyllosilicates are observed only on the Noachian crust, in four types of locations: Three are without any signatures other than phyllosilicates, on (1) smooth layered deposits, (2) massive exhumed material, and (3) crater ejecta, and one type of location is associated with olivine (4) over an altered mafic unit. This diversity suggests a widespread liquid water activity and a variety of alteration processes. The formation of phyllosilicates underwent considerable reduction, if not cessation, by the time of formation of Syrtis Major lava flows in the Hesperian period. Phyllosilicates are spatially and chronologically disconnected from the fluvial and depositional landforms observed in the Nili Fossae region. Observations suggest that these landforms formed after the extensive formation of phyllosilicates during short periods of time and/or temperatures close to freezing.

Received 26 September 2006; accepted 6 March 2007; published 4 August 2007.

Citation: Mangold, N., et al. (2007), Mineralogy of the Nili Fossae region with OMEGA/Mars Express data: 2. Aqueous alteration of the crust, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E08S04, doi:10.1029/2006JE002835.

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