Mineralogy of a mudstone at Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars.
Science
; 343(6169): 1243480, 2014 Jan 24.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24324271
ABSTRACT
Sedimentary rocks at Yellowknife Bay (Gale crater) on Mars include mudstone sampled by the Curiosity rover. The samples, John Klein and Cumberland, contain detrital basaltic minerals, calcium sulfates, iron oxide or hydroxides, iron sulfides, amorphous material, and trioctahedral smectites. The John Klein smectite has basal spacing of ~10 angstroms, indicating little interlayer hydration. The Cumberland smectite has basal spacing at both ~13.2 and ~10 angstroms. The larger spacing suggests a partially chloritized interlayer or interlayer magnesium or calcium facilitating H2O retention. Basaltic minerals in the mudstone are similar to those in nearby eolian deposits. However, the mudstone has far less Fe-forsterite, possibly lost with formation of smectite plus magnetite. Late Noachian/Early Hesperian or younger age indicates that clay mineral formation on Mars extended beyond Noachian time.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Mars
/
Geologic Sediments
/
Extraterrestrial Environment
/
Minerals
Language:
En
Journal:
Science
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos