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37 results on '"Fraeman, A. A."'

1. Frequency Tunable Surface Acoustic Wave Actuators for Adjustable Pitch Diffraction Grating

Author

Yen-Hung Wu, M. Bulut Coskun, Clifford Frez, Mina Rais-Zadeh, Abigail A. Fraeman, and Valerie J. Scott

Subjects
Diffraction, Materials science, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Spectrometer, Holographic grating, business.industry, Mechanical Engineering, Surface acoustic wave, Physics::Optics, Grating, Diffraction efficiency, 01 natural sciences, law.invention, Optics, law, 0103 physical sciences, Blazed grating, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, business, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Diffraction grating, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Diffraction gratings are commonly used in optical instruments such as in spectrometers, monochromators, and wavelength division multiplexing devices. The diffraction efficiency is directly related to the ratio of the grating spacing or pitch to the wavelength of the light. In a sinusoidal grating (or holographic grating) the efficiency is generally lower than a blazed grating with a saw tooth profile, but the spectral coverage can be broader. To address a large spectral range, advanced spectrometers use a number of diffraction gratings with a fixed pitch. In this paper, we show for the first time, the use of a tunable-frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW) delay line as a broad-band sinusoidal diffraction grating. To tune the frequency, we tune the effective spacing of the interdigitated transducers (IDTs) by applying specific phases to each IDT finger. The prototype SAW grating covers frequency range of 86 MHz to 360 MHz corresponding to optical range of $1.3~\mu \text{m}$ to $9~\mu \text{m}$ . [2020-0189]

Published
2020

2. Early diagenesis at and below Vera Rubin ridge, Gale crater, Mars

Author

Mark H. Reed, John Parnell, N. Mangold, John Bridges, L. J. Hicks, Cherie N. Achilles, E. B. Rampe, Candice Bedford, Susanne P. Schwenzer, Amy McAdam, A. A. Fraeman, S. M. R. Turner, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), and Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Mineral, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Geochemistry, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, 010502 geochemistry & geophysics, 01 natural sciences, Diagenesis, Igneous rock, Geophysics, [SDU.STU.PL]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Planetology, Space and Planetary Science, visual_art, Group (stratigraphy), Ridge (meteorology), visual_art.visual_art_medium, Clay minerals, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

International audience; Data returned by NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover showed evidence for abundant secondary materials, including Fe-oxides, phyllosilicates, and an amorphous component on and below Vera Rubin ridge in the Murray formation. We have used equilibrium thermochemical modeling to test the hypothesis that these altered sediments were deposited predominantly as detrital igneous grains and subsequently underwent diagenetic alteration. Chemical compositions of the altered components were calculated using data returned by the Chemistry and Mineralogy X-ray diffraction instrument and the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer on board Curiosity. Reaction of these alteration compositions with a CO2-poor and oxidizing dilute aqueous solution was modeled at 25 – 100 °C, with varying amounts of Fe3+/Fetot of the host rock. The modeled alteration assemblages contained abundant phyllosilicates and Fe-oxides at >100 water to rock ratios, and were directly comparable to the abundances of hematite and clay minerals observed by Curiosity at 10,000 water to rock at 50 – 100 °C with pH ranging from 7.9 to 9.3. Our modeling results suggest that the hematite-clay mineral assemblage is primarily the result of enhanced groundwater flow compared to the Sheepbed mudstone in the Bradbury Group observed at Yellowknife Bay, and underwent further, localized alteration to produce the mineralogy observed by Curiosity.

Published
2021

3. Brine-driven destruction of clay minerals in Gale crater, Mars

Author

S. J. Chipera, Christopher M. Fedo, Robert M. Hazen, G. W. Downs, Michael T. Thorpe, Kristen A. Bennett, P. I. Craig, Javier Cuadros, Robert T. Downs, D. W. Ming, R. Gellert, Albert S. Yen, Valerie Fox, V. Tu, Allan H. Treiman, Roger C. Wiens, Jens Frydenvang, John P. Grotzinger, David J. Des Marais, Amy McAdam, E. B. Rampe, R. E. Millken, N. Castle, A. A. Fraeman, R. V. Morris, Shaunna M. Morrison, Cherie N. Achilles, Alexander B. Bryk, David F. Blake, D. T. Vaniman, Paul R. Mahaffy, Thomas F. Bristow, and Ashwin R. Vasavada

Subjects
Martian, geography, Multidisciplinary, geography.geographical_feature_category, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Geochemistry, Mars Exploration Program, 010502 geochemistry & geophysics, 01 natural sciences, Brining, Planet, Ridge, Sedimentary rock, Clay minerals, Transect, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Modified clay minerals on Mars Sedimentary rocks exposed in Gale crater on Mars contain extensive clay minerals. Bristow et al. analyzed drill samples collected by the Curiosity rover as it climbed up sedimentary layers in the crater. They found evidence of past reactions with liquid water and sulfate brines, which could have percolated through the clay from an overlying sulfate deposit. Similar sulfate deposits are widespread across the planet and represent some of the last sedimentary rocks to form before the planet lost its surface liquid water, so the results inform our understanding of the geologic processes that occurred as Mars dried out. Science, abg5449, this issue p. 198

Published
2021

4. Iron Mobility During Diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Mars

Author

J. L'Haridon, N. Mangold, A. A. Fraeman, J. R. Johnson, A. Cousin, W. Rapin, G. David, E. Dehouck, V. Sun, J. Frydenvang, O. Gasnault, P. Gasda, N. Lanza, O. Forni, P.‐Y. Meslin, S. P. Schwenzer, J. Bridges, B. Horgan, C. H. House, M. Salvatore, S. Maurice, R. C. Wiens, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA-California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD] (APL), Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon - Terre, Planètes, Environnement [Lyon] (LGL-TPE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École normale supérieure - Lyon (ENS Lyon), California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Geological Institute [Copenhagen], University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (KU), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), The Open University [Milton Keynes] (OU), University of Leicester, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indiana University System, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), Penn State System, Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Météo France-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Météo France-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon - Terre, Planètes, Environnement (LGL-TPE), École normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne (UJM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH), and ANR-16-CE31-0012,MARS-PRIME,Environnement Primitif de Mars(2016)

Subjects
Recrystallization (geology), 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Outcrop, sedimentary rocks, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Iron oxide, Geochemistry, FOS: Physical sciences, Mars, 01 natural sciences, chemistry.chemical_compound, [SDU.STU.PL]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Planetology, Geochemistry and Petrology, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), iron mobility, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP), Hematite, diagenetic, Diagenesis, redox processes, Geophysics, Curiosity, chemistry, ChemCam, Space and Planetary Science, rover, visual_art, visual_art.visual_art_medium, Ridge (meteorology), Sedimentary rock, Pseudomorph, diagenesis, Geology, Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Abstract

The Curiosity rover investigated a topographic structure known as Vera Rubin ridge, associated with a hematite signature in orbital spectra. There, Curiosity encountered mudstones interpreted as lacustrine deposits, conformably overlying the 300 m‐thick underlying sedimentary rocks of the Murray formation at the base of Mount Sharp. While the presence of hematite (α‐Fe2O3) was confirmed in‐situ by both Mastcam and ChemCam spectral observations and by the CheMin instrument, neither ChemCam nor APXS observed any significant increase in FeOT (total iron oxide) abundances compared to the rest of the Murray formation. Instead, Curiosity discovered dark‐toned diagenetic features displaying anomalously high FeOT abundances, commonly observed in association with light‐toned Ca‐sulfate veins but also as crystal pseudomorphs in the host rock. These iron‐rich diagenetic features are predominantly observed in “grey” outcrops on the upper part of the ridge, which lack the telltale ferric signature of other Vera Rubin ridge outcrops. Their composition is consistent with anhydrous Fe‐oxide, as the enrichment in iron is not associated with enrichment in any other elements, nor with detections of volatiles. The lack of ferric absorption features in the ChemCam reflectance spectra and the hexagonal crystalline structure associated with dark‐toned crystals points toward coarse “grey” hematite. In addition, the host rock adjacent to these features appears bleached and show low‐FeOT content as well as depletion in Mn, indicating mobilization of these redox‐sensitive elements during diagenesis. Thus, groundwater fluid circulations could account for the remobilization of iron and recrystallization as crystalline hematite during diagenesis on Vera Rubin ridge.

Published
2020

5. Characterizing low-temperature aqueous alteration of Mars-analog basalts from Mauna Kea at multiple scales

Author

Wendy M. Calvin, Thomas F. Bristow, Nicole Lautze, Abigail A. Fraeman, Joel W. DesOrmeau, Brandon Rasmussen, and Bethany L. Ehlmann

Subjects
Basalt, Mineral, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Infrared, Mineralogy, Mars Exploration Program, engineering.material, Hematite, 010502 geochemistry & geophysics, 01 natural sciences, Spectral line, Geophysics, Geochemistry and Petrology, visual_art, Illite, engineering, visual_art.visual_art_medium, Kaolinite, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

We performed a multi-scale characterization of aqueous alteration of Mars analog basaltic rock from a Mauna Kea drill core using high-resolution visible and short-wave infrared (VIS-SWIR) spectral imaging, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and point VIS-SWIR spectra. Several types of smectites, zeolites, and primary minerals were identified. Mineral classes were mapped in cut sections extracted from the drill core and used to represent the range of alteration products seen in field data collected over 1000 m depth (Calvin et al. 2020). Ten distinct spectral end-members identified in the cut sections were used to map the field point spectra. Trioctahedral Fe- and Mg-rich smectites were present toward the top of the zone of analysis (972 m below the surface) and increased in abundance toward the bottom of the drill core (1763 m depth). The mineralogy demonstrates a general trend of discontinuous alteration that increases in intensity with depth, with less pervasive phyllosilicate alteration at the top, several zones of different mixtures of zeolites toward the center, followed by more abundant phyllosilicates in the lowest sections. Distinctly absent are Fe-Mg phyllosilicates other than smectites, as well as carbonates, sulfates, and Al phyllosilicates such as kaolinite or illite. Furthermore, hematite was only detected in two of 24 samples. The suite of assemblages points to aqueous alteration at low-to-moderate temperatures at neutral to basic pH in low-oxygen conditions, with little evidence of extensive surface interaction, presenting a possible analog for an early Mars subsurface environment. We also present a library of VIS-SWIR spectra of the analyzed cut sections, including both spatial averages (i.e., unweighted linear mixtures) of spectral images of each cut section and single point spectra of the cut sections. This will allow for consideration of nonlinear mixing effects in point spectra of these assemblages from natural surfaces in future terrestrial or planetary work.

Published
2020

6. The Chemostratigraphy of the Murray Formation and Role of Diagenesis at Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater, Mars, as Observed by the ChemCam Instrument

Author

Patrick J. Gasda, Valerie Payre, Christopher M. Fedo, Fred Calef, Abigail A. Fraeman, Candice Bedford, Jonas L'Haridon, P.-Y. Meslin, Nina Lanza, E. B. Rampe, Lauren A. Edgar, Jens Frydenvang, Roger C. Wiens, N. Mangold, Sylvestre Maurice, John P. Grotzinger, Olivier Gasnault, John Bridges, B. C. Clark, Sunetra Gupta, Christopher H. House, A. M. Olilla, Mark R. Salvatore, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), and Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Chemical index, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Geochemistry, Mars, 01 natural sciences, [SDU.STU.PL]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Planetology, Vera Rubin ridge, Geochemistry and Petrology, Chemostratigraphy, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Gale crater, Mars Science Laboratory, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, Diagenesis, Geophysics, ChemCam, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, visual_art, Ridge (meteorology), visual_art.visual_art_medium, chemostratigraphy, Clay minerals, Geology
Abstract

Geochemical results are presented from Curiosity's exploration of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), in addition to the full chemostratigraphy of the predominantly lacustrine mudstone Murray formation up to and including VRR. VRR is a prominent ridge flanking Aeolis Mons (informally Mt. Sharp), the central mound in Gale crater, Mars, and was a key area of interest for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. ChemCam data show that VRR is overall geochemically similar to lower-lying members of the Murray formation, even though the top of VRR shows a strong hematite spectral signature as observed from orbit. Although overall geochemically similar, VRR is characterized by a prominent decrease in Li abundance and Chemical Index of Alteration across the ridge. This decrease follows the morphology of the ridge rather than elevation and is inferred to reflect a nondepositionally controlled decrease in clay mineral abundance in VRR rocks. Additionally, a notable enrichment in Mn above baseline levels is observed on VRR. While not supporting a single model, the results suggest that VRR rocks were likely affected by multiple episodes of postdepositional groundwater interactions that made them more erosionally resistant than surrounding Murray rocks, thus resulting in the modern-day ridge after subsequent erosion.

Published
2020

7. Synergistic Ground and Orbital Observations of Iron Oxides on Mt. Sharp and Vera Rubin Ridge

Author

S. Jacob, Danika Wellington, James F. Bell, Briony Horgan, Melissa S. Rice, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Roger C. Wiens, Raymond E. Arvidson, R. V. Morris, Patrick Pinet, Valerie Fox, Vivian Z. Sun, Mark R. Salvatore, Abigail A. Fraeman, Ashwin R. Vasavada, Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), and Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
spectroscopy, curiosity, Surface Materials and Properties, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Infrared, Mineralogy, Mars, 01 natural sciences, Planetary Geochemistry, hematite, Remote Sensing, Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects, Geochemistry and Petrology, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), medicine, Instruments and Techniques, Spectroscopy, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets, Research Articles, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Mineralogy and Petrology, CRISM<, geography, geography.geographical_feature_category, Bedrock, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, CRISM, Planetary Mineralogy and Petrology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, Ridge, [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics], visual_art, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, visual_art.visual_art_medium, Investigations of Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Ferric, Geology, medicine.drug, Composition, Research Article
Abstract

Visible/short‐wave infrared spectral data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) show absorptions attributed to hematite at Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a topographic feature on northwest Mt. Sharp. The goals of this study are to determine why absorptions caused by ferric iron are strongly visible from orbit at VRR and to improve interpretation of CRISM data throughout lower Mt. Sharp. These goals are achieved by analyzing coordinated CRISM and in situ spectral data along the Curiosity Mars rover's traverse. VRR bedrock within areas that have the deepest ferric absorptions in CRISM data also has the deepest ferric absorptions measured in situ. This suggests strong ferric absorptions are visible from orbit at VRR because of the unique spectral properties of VRR bedrock. Dust and mixing with basaltic sand additionally inhibit the ability to measure ferric absorptions in bedrock stratigraphically below VRR from orbit. There are two implications of these findings: (1) Ferric absorptions in CRISM data initially dismissed as noise could be real, and ferric phases are more widespread in lower Mt. Sharp than previously reported. (2) Patches with the deepest ferric absorptions in CRISM data are, like VRR, reflective of deeper absorptions in the bedrock. One model to explain this spectral variability is late‐stage diagenetic fluids that changed the grain size of ferric phases, deepening absorptions. Curiosity's experience highlights the strengths of using CRISM data for spectral absorptions and associated mineral detections and the caveats in using these data for geologic interpretations and strategic path planning tools., Key Points Areas on Vera Rubin ridge with deep ferric absorptions from orbit also have deep ferric absorptions in Curiosity spectral data setsFerric phases are more widespread on Mt. Sharp than originally reported. Diagenesis deepened ferric absorptions in several locationsCombining orbital and in situ observations enhances planetary exploration

Published
2020

8. Mineralogy of Vera Rubin Ridge from the Mars Science Laboratory CheMin Instrument

Author

Thomas F. Bristow, David J. Des Marais, Michael T. Thorpe, P. I. Craig, T. S. Peretyazhko, S. J. Chipera, Kirsten L. Siebach, B. Lafuente, Mark R. Salvatore, Albert S. Yen, David F. Blake, Robert T. Downs, Robert M. Hazen, G. W. Downs, R. V. Morris, Elizabeth B. Rampe, D. T. Vaniman, R. Gellert, R. C. Walroth, B. Sutter, John P. Grotzinger, D. W. Ming, Allan H. Treiman, P.-Y. Meslin, V. Tu, Abigail A. Fraeman, Amy McAdam, Shaunna M. Morrison, N. Castle, and Cherie N. Achilles

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Outcrop, Mineralogy, Nontronite, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, engineering.material, 01 natural sciences, Diagenesis, Geophysics, Space and Planetary Science, Geochemistry and Petrology, visual_art, Jarosite, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), visual_art.visual_art_medium, Ridge (meteorology), engineering, Clay minerals, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Vera Rubin ridge (VRR) is an erosion‐resistant feature on the northwestern slope of Mount Sharp in Gale crater, Mars, and orbital visible/short‐wave infrared measurements indicate it contains red‐colored hematite. The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover performed an extensive campaign on VRR to study its mineralogy, geochemistry, and sedimentology to determine the depositional and diagenetic history of the ridge and constrain the processes by which the hematite could have formed. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) data from the CheMin instrument of four samples drilled on and below VRR demonstrate differences in iron, phyllosilicate, and sulfate mineralogy and hematite grain size. Hematite is common across the ridge, and its detection in a gray‐colored outcrop suggested localized regions with coarse‐grained hematite, which commonly forms from warm fluids. Broad XRD peaks for hematite in one sample below VRR and the abundance of FeO_T in the amorphous component suggest the presence of nano‐crystalline hematite and amorphous Fe oxides/oxyhydroxides. Well‐crystalline akaganeite and jarosite are present in two samples drilled from VRR, indicating at least limited alteration by acid‐saline fluids. Collapsed nontronite is present below VRR, but samples from VRR contain phyllosilicate with d(001) = 9.6 A, possibly from ferripyrophyllite or an acid‐altered smectite. The most likely cementing agents creating the ridge are hematite and opaline silica. We hypothesize late diagenesis can explain much of the mineralogical variation on the ridge, where multiple fluid episodes with variable pH, salinity, and temperature altered the rocks, causing the precipitation and crystallization of phases that are not otherwise in equilibrium.

Published
2020

9. Evidence for a diagenetic origin of vera rubin ridge, gale crater, Mars: summary and synthesis of curiosity's exploration campaign

Author

Craig Hardgrove, Kirsten L. Siebach, John P. Grotzinger, Christopher S. Edwards, Alexander B. Bryk, Susanne P. Schwenzer, Sarah Stewart Johnson, William E. Dietrich, Lauren A. Edgar, Sunetra Gupta, Steven G. Banham, Jeffrey G. Catalano, S. Czarnecki, K. M. Stack, Ashwin R. Vasavada, R. V. Morris, Danika Wellington, John Bridges, Christopher H. House, Kristen A. Bennett, S. M. R. Turner, David M. Rubin, Jonas L'Haridon, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Roger C. Wiens, Valerie Fox, S. Jacob, Raymond E. Arvidson, Amy J. Williams, Vivian Z. Sun, Christopher M. Fedo, Jens Frydenvang, Travis Gabriel, Briony Horgan, Woodward W. Fischer, E. B. Rampe, Abigail A. Fraeman, Lucy M. Thompson, N. Mangold, G. M. Wong, Mark R. Salvatore, Nathaniel Stein, G. David, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), UK Space Agency, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA-California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), and Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Geochemistry & Geophysics, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Outcrop, Lacustrine, Geochemistry, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Mars, Hematite, FLUID-FLOW, Geologic record, 01 natural sciences, Diagenesis, Geochemistry and Petrology, 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), 0402 Geochemistry, CHEMCAM INSTRUMENT SUITE, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, geography, geography.geographical_feature_category, Spectral signature, Science & Technology, SEDIMENTARY-ROCKS, MOUNT SHARP, Bedrock, DYNAMIC ALBEDO, Gale crater, Mars Exploration Program, MURRAY FORMATION, 15. Life on land, ATOM EXCHANGE, Geophysics, Curiosity, 0403 Geology, Space and Planetary Science, visual_art, Physical Sciences, visual_art.visual_art_medium, PAHRUMP HILLS, (U-TH)/HE DATES, Geology
Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the Curiosity rover's exploration at Vera Rubin ridge and summarizes the science results. Vera Rubin ridge (VRR) is a distinct geomorphic feature on lower Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mt. Sharp) that was identified in orbital data based on its distinct texture, topographic expression, and association with a hematite spectral signature. Curiosity conducted extensive remote sensing observations, acquired data on dozens of contact science targets, and drilled three outcrop samples from the ridge, as well as one outcrop sample immediately below the ridge. Our observations indicate that strata composing VRR were deposited in a predominantly lacustrine setting and are part of the Murray formation. The rocks within the ridge are chemically in family with underlying Murray formation strata. Red hematite is dispersed throughout much of the VRR bedrock, and this is the source of the orbital spectral detection. Gray hematite is also present in isolated, gray‐colored patches concentrated towards the upper elevations of VRR, and these gray patches also contain small, dark Fe‐rich nodules. We propose that VRR formed when diagenetic event(s) preferentially hardened rocks, which were subsequently eroded into a ridge by wind. Diagenesis also led to enhanced crystallization and/or cementation that deepened the ferric‐related spectral absorptions on the ridge, which helped make them readily distinguishable from orbit. Results add to existing evidence of protracted aqueous environments at Gale crater and give new insight into how diagenesis shaped Mars’ rock record.

Published
2020

10. Regional Structural Orientation of the Mount Sharp Group Revealed by In Situ Dip Measurements and Stratigraphic Correlations on the Vera Rubin Ridge

Author

Daven P. Quinn, Robert G. Deen, Abigail A. Fraeman, Nathaniel Stein, Lauren A. Edgar, Christopher M. Fedo, John P. Grotzinger, Bethany L. Ehlmann, and Kathryn M. Stack

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Bedding, Trough (geology), Mars Exploration Program, Curiosity rover, 01 natural sciences, Sedimentary depositional environment, Paleontology, Geophysics, Impact crater, Space and Planetary Science, Geochemistry and Petrology, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), Geologic history, Sedimentary rock, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Ground‐based bedding orientation measurements are critical to determine the geologic history and processes of sedimentation in Gale crater, Mars. We constrain the dip of lacustrine strata of the Blunts Point, Pettegrove Point, and Jura members of the Murray formation using a combination of regional stratigraphic correlations and bed attitude measurements from stereo Mastcam images taken by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover. In situ bed attitude measurements using a principal component analysis‐based regression method reveal a wide range of dips and dip azimuths owing to a combination of high stereo errors, postdepositional deformation of strata (e.g., fracturing, rotation, and impact cratering), and different primary depositional dips. These constrain regional dips to be within several degrees of horizontal on average. Stratigraphic correlations between targets observed in the Glen Torridon trough and at the Pettegrove Point‐Jura member contact of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR) constrain dips to be between 3°SE and 2°NW, consistent with nearly flat strata deposited horizontally on an equipotential surface. The Jura member is determined to be stratigraphically equivalent to the northern portion of the Glen Torridon trough. Rover‐based dip magnitudes are generally significantly shallower than the orientation of VRR member contacts measured from High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment‐based traces, suggesting the sedimentary strata and VRR member contacts may be discordant.

Published
2020

11. Barefoot Rover: a Sensor-Embedded Rover Wheel Demonstrating In-Situ Engineering and Science Extractions using Machine Learning

Author

Jack Lightholder, Yuliya Marchetti, Matthew Cross, Lukas Mandrake, Abigail A. Fraeman, and Eric Junkins

Subjects
0209 industrial biotechnology, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Computer science, business.industry, ComputerApplications_COMPUTERSINOTHERSYSTEMS, Terrain, 02 engineering and technology, Slip (materials science), Machine learning, computer.software_genre, 01 natural sciences, Internal friction, 020901 industrial engineering & automation, Skid (automobile), ROVER, Artificial intelligence, business, computer, ComputingMethodologies_COMPUTERGRAPHICS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Slip (vehicle dynamics)
Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate an instrumented wheel concept which utilizes a 2D pressure grid, an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) sensor and machine learning (ML) to extract meaningful metrics from the interaction between the wheel and surface terrain. These include continuous slip/skid estimation, balance, and sharpness for engineering applications. Estimates of surface hydration, texture, terrain patterns, and regolith physical properties such as cohesion and angle of internal friction are additionally calculated for science applications. Traditional systems rely on post-processing of visual images and vehicle telemetry to estimate these metrics. Through in-situ sensing, these metrics can be calculated in near real time and made available to onboard science and engineering autonomy applications. This work aims to provide a deployable system for future planetary exploration missions to increase science and engineering capabilities through increased knowledge of the terrain.

Published
2020

12. A Lacustrine Paleoenvironment Recorded at Vera RubinRidge, Gale Crater: Overview of the Sedimentology and Stratigraphy Observed by the Mars ScienceLaboratory Curiosity Rover

Author

Frances Rivera-Hernandez, Abigail A. Fraeman, Kristen A. Bennett, Sunetra Gupta, Christopher H. House, J. Van Beek, David M. Rubin, Kenneth S. Edgett, John P. Grotzinger, Vivian Z. Sun, Christopher M. Fedo, Kathryn M. Stack, Lauren A. Edgar, Steven G. Banham, and Nathaniel Stein

Subjects
Martian, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Outcrop, Mars Exploration Program, 01 natural sciences, Diagenesis, Paleontology, Geophysics, Space and Planetary Science, Geochemistry and Petrology, Facies, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), Sedimentology, Transect, Slumping, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

For ~500 Martian solar days (sols), the Mars Science Laboratory team explored Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a topographic feature on the northwest slope of Aeolis Mons. Here we review the sedimentary facies and stratigraphy observed during sols 1,800–2,300, covering more than 100 m of stratigraphic thickness. Curiosity's traverse includes two transects across the ridge, which enables investigation of lateral variability over a distance of ~300 m. Three informally named stratigraphic members of the Murray formation are described: Blunts Point, Pettegrove Point, and Jura, with the latter two exposed on VRR. The Blunts Point member, exposed just below the ridge, is characterized by a recessive, fine‐grained facies that exhibits extensive planar lamination and is crosscut by abundant curvi‐planar veins. The Pettegrove Point member is more resistant, fine‐grained, thinly planar laminated, and contains a higher abundance of diagenetic concretions. Conformable above the Pettegrove Point member is the Jura member, which is also fine‐grained and parallel stratified, but is marked by a distinct step in topography, which coincides with localized meter‐scale inclined strata, a thinly and thickly laminated facies, and occasional crystal molds. All members record low‐energy lacustrine deposition, consistent with prior observations of the Murray formation. Uncommon outcrops of low‐angle stratification suggest possible subaqueous currents, and steeply inclined beds may be the result of slumping. Collectively, the rocks exposed at VRR provide additional evidence for a long‐lived lacustrine environment (in excess of 106 years via comparison to terrestrial records of sedimentation), which extends our understanding of the duration of habitable conditions in Gale crater.

Published
2020

13. Diagenesis of Vera Rubin ridge, Gale crater, Mars from Mastcam multispectral images

Author

Lucy M. Thompson, S. Jacob, Jens Frydenvang, Elizabeth B. Rampe, Nicolas Mangold, Edward A. Cloutis, James F. Bell, Frances Rivera-Hernandez, Lauren A. Edgar, Abigail A. Fraeman, Jeffrey R. Johnson, John P. Grotzinger, Briony Horgan, Jonas L'Haridon, Vivian Z. Sun, Danika Wellington, C. H. Seeger, Kristen A. Bennett, Melissa S. Rice, Purdue University [West Lafayette], Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), and Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
spectroscopy, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Multispectral image, Geochemistry, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Mars, 01 natural sciences, Remote Sensing, Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects, Geochemistry and Petrology, 0103 physical sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets, Research Articles, Mineralogy and Petrology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Martian, Spectral properties, Gale crater, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, 15. Life on land, Mineral Physics, Optical, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy, Diagenesis, Planetary Mineralogy and Petrology, Geophysics, Space and Planetary Science, visual_art, visual_art.visual_art_medium, Investigations of Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Sedimentary rock, mineralogy, Alteration and Weathering Processes, diagenesis, Composition, Research Article
Abstract

Images from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission of lacustrine sedimentary rocks of Vera Rubin ridge on “Mt. Sharp” in Gale crater, Mars, have shown stark color variations from red to purple to gray. These color differences crosscut stratigraphy and are likely due to diagenetic alteration of the sediments after deposition. However, the chemistry and timing of these fluid interactions is unclear. Determining how diagenetic processes may have modified chemical and mineralogical signatures of ancient Martian environments is critical for understanding the past habitability of Mars and achieving the goals of the MSL mission. Here we use visible/near‐infrared spectra from Mastcam and ChemCam to determine the mineralogical origins of color variations in the ridge. Color variations are consistent with changes in spectral properties related to the crystallinity, grain size, and texture of hematite. Coarse‐grained gray hematite spectrally dominates in the gray patches and is present in the purple areas, while nanophase and fine‐grained red crystalline hematite are present and spectrally dominate in the red and purple areas. We hypothesize that these differences were caused by grain‐size coarsening of hematite by diagenetic fluids, as observed in terrestrial analogs. In this model, early primary reddening by oxidizing fluids near the surface was followed during or after burial by bleaching to form the gray patches, possibly with limited secondary reddening after exhumation. Diagenetic alteration may have diminished the preservation of biosignatures and changed the composition of the sediments, making it more difficult to interpret how conditions evolved in the paleolake over time., Key Points Vera Rubin ridge exhibits strong color differences that crosscut stratigraphy, consistent with postdepositional alteration (diagenesis)Color differences correspond to variations in spectral signatures of nanophase, fine‐grained, and coarse‐grained hematiteBased on terrestrial analogs, these variations can be explained by early oxidation and later coarsening of hematite by diagenetic fluids

Published
2019

14. Widespread hematite at high latitudes of the Moon

Author

Andrew R. Poppe, Abigail A. Fraeman, Paul G. Lucey, Shuai Li, Dana M. Hurley, Vivian Z. Sun, and Peter H. Schultz

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, genetic structures, chemistry.chemical_element, 01 natural sciences, Oxygen, Isotopes of oxygen, Astrobiology, Atmosphere, Impact crater, 0103 physical sciences, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Research Articles, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Multidisciplinary, Mineral, SciAdv r-articles, Geology, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, eye diseases, chemistry, Asteroid, visual_art, Physics::Space Physics, visual_art.visual_art_medium, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Research Article
Abstract

Moon orbital data analysis reveals the unexpected presence of Hematite, an oxidization product under highly reducing conditions., Hematite (Fe2O3) is a common oxidization product on Earth, Mars, and some asteroids. Although oxidizing processes have been speculated to operate on the lunar surface and form ferric iron–bearing minerals, unambiguous detections of ferric minerals forming under highly reducing conditions on the Moon have remained elusive. Our analyses of the Moon Mineralogy Mapper data show that hematite, a ferric mineral, is present at high latitudes on the Moon, mostly associated with east- and equator-facing sides of topographic highs, and is more prevalent on the nearside than the farside. Oxygen delivered from Earth’s upper atmosphere could be the major oxidant that forms lunar hematite. Hematite at craters of different ages may have preserved the oxygen isotopes of Earth’s atmosphere in the past billions of years. Future oxygen isotope measurements can test our hypothesis and may help reveal the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere.

Published
2019

16. Visible/near-infrared spectral diversity from in situ observations of the Bagnold Dune Field sands in Gale Crater, Mars

Author

Danika Wellington, Cherie N. Achilles, Patrick Pinet, Jeffrey R. Johnson, James F. Bell, Victoria E. Hamilton, Lucy M. Thompson, Sylvestre Maurice, Olivier Gasnault, Bethany L. Ehlmann, Roger C. Wiens, Edward A. Cloutis, Abigail A. Fraeman, S. Bender, and Stéphane Le Mouélic

Subjects
Olivine, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Mineralogy, Mars Exploration Program, Pyroxene, engineering.material, 01 natural sciences, Grain size, Geophysics, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, Geochemistry and Petrology, Absorption band, 0103 physical sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), engineering, Aeolian processes, Mafic, Spectroscopy, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

As part of the Bagnold Dune campaign conducted by Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity, visible/near-infrared reflectance spectra of dune sands were acquired using Mast Camera (Mastcam) multispectral imaging (445–1013 nm) and Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) passive point spectroscopy (400–840 nm). By comparing spectra from pristine and rover-disturbed ripple crests and troughs within the dune field, and through analysis of sieved grain size fractions, constraints on mineral segregation from grain sorting could be determined. In general, the dune areas exhibited low relative reflectance, a weak ~530 nm absorption band, an absorption band near 620 nm, and a spectral downturn after ~685 nm consistent with olivine-bearing sands. The finest grain size fractions occurred within ripple troughs and in the subsurface and typically exhibited the strongest ~530 nm bands, highest relative reflectances, and weakest red/near-infrared ratios, consistent with a combination of crystalline and amorphous ferric materials. Coarser-grained samples were the darkest and bluest and exhibited weaker ~530 nm bands, lower relative reflectances, and stronger downturns in the near-infrared, consistent with greater proportions of mafic minerals such as olivine and pyroxene. These grains were typically segregated along ripple crests and among the upper surfaces of grain flows in disturbed sands. Sieved dune sands exhibited progressive decreases in reflectance with increasing grain size, as observed in laboratory spectra of olivine size separates. The continuum of spectral features observed between the coarse- and fine-grained dune sands suggests that mafic grains, ferric materials, and air fall dust mix in variable proportions depending on aeolian activity and grain sorting.

Published
2017

17. Compositional variations in sands of the Bagnold Dunes, Gale crater, Mars, from visible-shortwave infrared spectroscopy and comparison with ground truth from the Curiosity rover

Author

Bethany L. Ehlmann, Francois Ayoub, Sarah E. Minson, Nathan T. Bridges, Raymond E. Arvidson, Mathieu G.A. Lapotre, Ryan C. Ewing, and Abigail A. Fraeman

Subjects
Basalt, Martian, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Sorting (sediment), Mineralogy, Mars Exploration Program, Geophysics, Albedo, engineering.material, 01 natural sciences, CRISM, Space and Planetary Science, Geochemistry and Petrology, 0103 physical sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), engineering, Plagioclase, Aeolian processes, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

During its ascent up Mount Sharp, the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover traversed the Bagnold Dune Field. We model sand modal mineralogy and grain size at four locations near the rover traverse, using orbital shortwave infrared single-scattering albedo spectra and a Markov chain Monte Carlo implementation of Hapke's radiative transfer theory to fully constrain uncertainties and permitted solutions. These predictions, evaluated against in situ measurements at one site from the Curiosity rover, show that X-ray diffraction-measured mineralogy of the basaltic sands is within the 95% confidence interval of model predictions. However, predictions are relatively insensitive to grain size and are nonunique, especially when modeling the composition of minerals with solid solutions. We find an overall basaltic mineralogy and show subtle spatial variations in composition in and around the Bagnold Dunes, consistent with a mafic enrichment of sands with cumulative aeolian-transport distance by sorting of olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase grains. Furthermore, the large variations in Fe and Mg abundances (~20 wt %) at the Bagnold Dunes suggest that compositional variability may be enhanced by local mixing of well-sorted sand with proximal sand sources. Our estimates demonstrate a method for orbital quantification of composition with rigorous uncertainty determination and provide key constraints for interpreting in situ measurements of compositional variability within Martian aeolian sandstones.

Published
2017

18. Relating geologic units and mobility system kinematics contributing to Curiosity wheel damage at Gale Crater, Mars

Author

A.M. Zastrow, Nathaniel Stein, E.K. Stilly, Ashwin R. Vasavada, Feng Zhou, A.C. Steffy, J. Shechet, P. DeGrosse, M.A. Newby, John P. Grotzinger, Matthew Heverly, Abigail A. Fraeman, Scott Moreland, and Raymond E. Arvidson

Subjects
0209 industrial biotechnology, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Outcrop, Mechanical Engineering, Mobility system, Gale crater, 02 engineering and technology, Mars Exploration Program, Kinematics, 01 natural sciences, Mount, 020901 industrial engineering & automation, Geotechnical engineering, Suspension (vehicle), Geology, Seismology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Stress concentration
Abstract

Curiosity landed on plains to the north of Mount Sharp in August 2012. By June 2016 the rover had traversed 12.9 km to the southwest, encountering extensive strata that were deposited in a fluvial-deltaic-lacustrine system. Initial drives across sharp sandstone outcrops initiated an unacceptably high rate of punctures and cracks in the thin aluminum wheel skin structures. Initial damage was found to be related to the drive control mode of the six wheel drive actuators and the kinematics of the rocker-bogie suspension. Wheels leading a suspension pivot were forced onto sharp, immobile surfaces by the other wheels as they maintained their commanded angular velocities. Wheel damage mechanisms such as geometry-induced stress concentration cracking and low-cycle fatigue were then exacerbated. A geomorphic map was generated to assist in planning traverses that would minimize further wheel damage. A steady increase in punctures and cracks between landing and June 2016 was due in part because of drives across the sharp sandstone outcrops that could not be avoided. Wheel lifetime estimates show that with careful path planning the wheels will be operational for an additional ten kilometers or more, allowing the rover to reach key strata exposed on the slopes of Mount Sharp.

Published
2017

19. Diagenetic silica enrichment and late-stage groundwater activity in Gale crater, Mars

Author

Violaine Sautter, N. Mangold, Horton E. Newsom, Insoo Jun, Fred Calef, Candice Bedford, P. Edwards, William Rapin, R. Gellert, Kenneth S. Edgett, David T. Vaniman, Lucy M. Thompson, P. Y. Meslin, J. A. Watkins, Martin R. Fisk, Ryan B. Anderson, John Bridges, Melissa S. Rice, John P. Grotzinger, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Ralph E. Milliken, Nina Lanza, Patrick J. Gasda, Kjartan M. Kinch, Dawn Y. Sumner, B. C. Clark, Nathaniel Stein, David F. Blake, Morten Madsen, Sanjeev Gupta, Agnès Cousin, Ashwin R. Vasavada, Joel A. Hurowitz, I. G. Mitrofanov, Sylvestre Maurice, Jens Frydenvang, Roger C. Wiens, Samuel M. Clegg, Valerie Payre, Abigail A. Fraeman, Susanne P. Schwenzer, and J. Van Beek

Subjects
geography, geography.geographical_feature_category, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Earth science, Bedrock, Geochemistry, Mars Exploration Program, Structural basin, 01 natural sciences, Deposition (geology), Diagenesis, Geophysics, 13. Climate action, 0103 physical sciences, General Earth and Planetary Sciences, Aeolian processes, Sedimentary rock, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, Groundwater, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Diagenetic silica enrichment in fracture-associated halos that crosscut lacustrine and unconformably overlying aeolian sedimentary bedrock is observed on the lower north slope of Aeolis Mons in Gale crater, Mars. The diagenetic silica enrichment is colocated with detrital silica enrichment observed in the lacustrine bedrock yet extends into a considerably younger, unconformably draping aeolian sandstone, implying that diagenetic silica enrichment postdates the detrital silica enrichment. A causal connection between the detrital and diagenetic silica enrichment implies that water was present in the subsurface of Gale crater long after deposition of the lacustrine sediments and that it mobilized detrital amorphous silica and precipitated it along fractures in the overlying bedrock. Although absolute timing is uncertain, the observed diagenesis likely represents some of the most recent groundwater activity in Gale crater and suggests that the timescale of potential habitability extended considerably beyond the time that the lacustrine sediments of Aeolis Mons were deposited.

Published
2017

20. Comparing orbiter and rover image-based mapping of an ancient sedimentary environment, Aeolis Palus, Gale crater, Mars

Author

Abigail A. Fraeman, Dawn Y. Sumner, Christopher S. Edwards, Melissa S. Rice, S. R. Jacob, L. Le Deit, Kenneth S. Edgett, Kevin W. Lewis, Fred Calef, David M. Rubin, John P. Grotzinger, Rebecca M. E. Williams, Sanjeev Gupta, Lauren A. Edgar, Kenneth H. Williford, K. M. Stack, and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Subjects
SELECTION, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Mars, surface, Outcrop, LANDING SITE, Mars, 0404 Geophysics, Astronomy & Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, Astrobiology, law.invention, Orbiter, law, 0103 physical sciences, 0402 Geochemistry, GEOLOGY, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, geography, Science & Technology, geography.geographical_feature_category, MINERALOGY, ORIGIN, Bedrock, Mars landing, Astronomy and Astrophysics, SCIENCE LABORATORY MISSION, Geophysics, Mars Exploration Program, Geologic map, Mars Hand Lens Imager, EVOLUTION, 0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences, Space and Planetary Science, Physical Sciences, Facies, Geological processes, Geology
Abstract

This study provides the first systematic comparison of orbital facies maps with detailed ground-based geology observations from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover to examine the validity of geologic interpretations derived from orbital image data. Orbital facies maps were constructed for the Darwin, Cooperstown, and Kimberley waypoints visited by the Curiosity rover using High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images. These maps, which represent the most detailed orbital analysis of these areas to date, were compared with rover image-based geologic maps and stratigraphic columns derived from Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam) and Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI). Results show that bedrock outcrops can generally be distinguished from unconsolidated surficial deposits in high-resolution orbital images and that orbital facies mapping can be used to recognize geologic contacts between well-exposed bedrock units. However, process-based interpretations derived from orbital image mapping are difficult to infer without known regional context or observable paleogeomorphic indicators, and layer-cake models of stratigraphy derived from orbital maps oversimplify depositional relationships as revealed from a rover perspective. This study also shows that fine-scale orbital image-based mapping of current and future Mars landing sites is essential for optimizing the efficiency and science return of rover surface operations.

Published
2016

21. The stratigraphy and evolution of lower Mount Sharp from spectral, morphological, and thermophysical orbital data sets

Author

Daven P. Quinn, Ralph E. Milliken, Christopher S. Edwards, Melissa S. Rice, John P. Grotzinger, Raymond E. Arvidson, Bethany L. Ehlmann, and Abigail A. Fraeman

Subjects
geography, geography.geographical_feature_category, Spectral signature, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Mineralogy, Geologic map, 01 natural sciences, Texture (geology), Sedimentary depositional environment, Geophysics, Stratigraphy, Space and Planetary Science, Geochemistry and Petrology, Ridge, Group (stratigraphy), 0103 physical sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), Period (geology), 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

We have developed a refined geologic map and stratigraphy for lower Mt. Sharp using coordinated analyses of new spectral, thermophysical, and morphologic orbital data products. The Mt. Sharp group consists of seven relatively planar units delineated by differences in texture, mineralogy, and thermophysical properties. These units are (1-3) three spatially adjacent units in the Murray formation which contain a variety of secondary phases and are distinguishable by thermal inertia and albedo differences, (4) a phyllosilicate-bearing unit, (5) a hematite-capped ridge unit, (6) a unit associated with material having a strongly sloped spectral signature at visible-near infrared wavelengths, and (7) a layered sulfate unit. The Siccar Point group consists of the Stimson formation and two additional units that unconformably overlie the Mt. Sharp group. All Siccar Point group units are distinguished by higher thermal inertia values and record a period of substantial deposition and exhumation that followed the deposition and exhumation of the Mt. Sharp group. Several spatially extensive silica deposits associated with veins and fractures show late stage silica enrichment within lower Mt. Sharp was pervasive. At least two laterally extensive hematitic deposits are present at different stratigraphic intervals, and both are geometrically conformable with lower Mt. Sharp strata. The occurrence of hematite at multiple stratigraphic horizons suggests redox interfaces were widespread in space and/or in time, and future measurements by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover will provide further insights into the depositional settings of these and other mineral phases.

Published
2016

22. Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Megaripple Crossings up to Sol 710 in Gale Crater

Author

Ashwin R. Vasavada, Karl Iagnemma, Matthew Heverly, Mark Maimone, P. Bellutta, David M. Rubin, Raymond E. Arvidson, Abigail A. Fraeman, John P. Grotzinger, Feng Zhou, and Nathan Stein

Subjects
0209 industrial biotechnology, geography, geography.geographical_feature_category, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Outcrop, Bedrock, Compaction, Gale crater, 02 engineering and technology, Slip (materials science), Mars Exploration Program, Curiosity rover, 01 natural sciences, Regolith, Computer Science Applications, 020901 industrial engineering & automation, Control and Systems Engineering, Geotechnical engineering, Geomorphology, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

After landing in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover traveled across regolith-covered, rock-strewn plains that transitioned into terrains that have been variably eroded, with valleys partially filled with windblown sands, and intervening plateaus capped by well-cemented sandstones that have been fractured and shaped by wind into outcrops with numerous sharp rock surfaces. Wheel punctures and tears caused by sharp rocks while traversing the plateaus led to directing the rover to traverse in valleys where sands would cushion wheel loads. This required driving across a megaripple (windblown, sand-sized deposit covered by coarser grains) that straddles a narrow gap and several extensive megaripple deposits that accumulated in low portions of valleys. Traverses across megaripple deposits led to mobility difficulties, with sinkage values up to approximately 30% of the 0.50 m wheel diameter, resultant high compaction resistances, and rover-based slip up to 77%. Analysis of imaging and engineering data collected during traverses across megaripples for the first 710 sols (Mars days) of the mission, laboratory-based single-wheel soil experiments, full-scale rover tests at the Dumont Dunes, Mojave Desert, California, and numerical simulations show that a combination of material properties and megaripple geometries explain the high wheel sinkage and slip events. Extensive megaripple deposits have subsequently been avoided and instead traverses have been implemented across terrains covered with regolith or thin windblown sand covers and megaripples separated by bedrock exposures.

Published
2016

23. Bagnold Dunes Campaign Phase 2: Visible/Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy of Longitudinal Ripple Sands

Author

James F. Bell, Olivier Gasnault, S. Bender, Sylvestre Maurice, Patrick Pinet, Edward A. Cloutis, Lucy M. Thompson, Abigail A. Fraeman, Danika Wellington, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Bethany L. Ehlmann, Roger C. Wiens, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD] (APL), Arizona State University [Tempe] (ASU), Planetary Science Institute [Tucson] (PSI), Department of Geography [Winnipeg], University of Winnipeg, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences [Pasadena], California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA-California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Gothenburg (GU), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), and Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
geography, geography.geographical_feature_category, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Infrared, Bedrock, Mineralogy, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, 01 natural sciences, Spectral line, Geophysics, [SDU.STU.PL]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Planetology, Barchan, Phase (matter), visual_art, 0103 physical sciences, visual_art.visual_art_medium, General Earth and Planetary Sciences, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Visible spectrum
Abstract

As part of the Phase 2 Bagnold Dune campaign at Gale Crater, Mars, constraints on the geochemistry, mineralogy, and oxidation state of pristine and disturbed linear sand ripples were made using visible/near‐infrared spectral observations for comparison to Phase 1 spectra of the barchan dunes to the north. Spectra acquired by the ChemCam and Mastcam instruments (400–1,000 nm) at four Phase 2 locations revealed similar overall spectral trends between the two regions, but most Phase 2 sands were redder in the visible wavelengths. The majority of targets exhibited lower red/infrared ratios, higher ~530‐nm band depths, and higher red/blue ratios than Phase 1 samples, suggesting a greater proportion of redder, fine‐grained, ferric sands in Phase 2 samples. This is consistent with the slightly greater proportion of hematite in Phase 2 samples as determined from CheMin analyses of the Ogunquit sands, which may reflect contamination from the surrounding hematite‐bearing Murray formation bedrock.

Published
2018

24. A Field Guide to Finding Fossils on Mars

Author

Sean McMahon, S. A. Newman, Kenneth H. Williford, John P. Grotzinger, Roger E. Summons, Tanja Bosak, Abigail A. Fraeman, Derek E. G. Briggs, Ralph E. Milliken, Mirna Daye, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Bosak, Tanja, Summons, Roger E, El Daye, Mirna, and Newman, Sharon

Subjects
Micropaleontology, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, astrobiology, Mars, Context (language use), Review Article, Biogeosciences, 010502 geochemistry & geophysics, 01 natural sciences, Astrobiology, Sedimentary depositional environment, Paleoceanography, Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects, Geochemistry and Petrology, Martian surface, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Fossil Record, Macro‐ and Micropaleontology, Mars Exploration Program, Geological evidence, Microbe/Mineral Interactions, Marine Geology and Geophysics, 15. Life on land, Geomicrobiology, Geophysics, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, Astrobiology and Extraterrestrial Materials, Siliciclastic, fossils, Geology
Abstract

The Martian surface is cold, dry, exposed to biologically harmful radiation and apparently barren today. Nevertheless, there is clear geological evidence for warmer, wetter intervals in the past that could have supported life at or near the surface. This evidence has motivated National Aeronautics and Space Administration and European Space Agency to prioritize the search for any remains or traces of organisms from early Mars in forthcoming missions. Informed by (1) stratigraphic, mineralogical and geochemical data collected by previous and current missions, (2) Earth's fossil record, and (3) experimental studies of organic decay and preservation, we here consider whether, how, and where fossils and isotopic biosignatures could have been preserved in the depositional environments and mineralizing media thought to have been present in habitable settings on early Mars. We conclude that Noachian‐Hesperian Fe‐bearing clay‐rich fluvio‐lacustrine siliciclastic deposits, especially where enriched in silica, currently represent the most promising and best understood astropaleontological targets. Siliceous sinters would also be an excellent target, but their presence on Mars awaits confirmation. More work is needed to improve our understanding of fossil preservation in the context of other environments specific to Mars, particularly within evaporative salts and pore/fracture‐filling subsurface minerals., Key Points Noachian‐Hesperian Fe‐bearing clay‐rich fluvio‐lacustrine siliciclastic sediments are favored in the search for ancient Martian lifeThere is insufficient confidence in the nature of reported silica sinters on Mars or the possibility of preservation in the deep biosphereExperimental taphonomy approaches from paleontology should now be adapted to understand limits on preservation under Martian conditions

Published
2018
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25. Visible to near-infrared MSL/Mastcam multispectral imaging: Initial results from select high-interest science targets within Gale Crater, Mars

Author

James F. Bell, A. Godber, Danika Wellington, Abigail A. Fraeman, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Craig Hardgrove, Melissa S. Rice, Bethany L. Ehlmann, and Kjartan M. Kinch

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Multispectral image, Near-infrared spectroscopy, Mineralogy, Mars, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, 01 natural sciences, Spectral line, Gale Crater, CRISM, Geophysics, Curiosity, Geochemistry and Petrology, Absorption band, Martian surface, visual_art, 0103 physical sciences, visual_art.visual_art_medium, multispectral imaging, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Remote sensing
Abstract

The Mastcam CCD cameras on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover each use an 8-position filter wheel in acquiring up to 1600 × 1200 pixel images. The filter set includes a broadband near-infrared cutoff filter for RGB Bayer imaging on each camera and 12 narrow-band geology filters distributed between the two cameras, spanning the wavelength range 445–1013 nm. This wavelength region includes the relatively broad charge-transfer and crystal-field absorption bands that are most commonly due to the presence of iron-bearing minerals. To identify such spectral features, sequences of images taken with identical pointings through different filters have been calibrated to relative reflectance using pre-flight calibration coefficients and in-flight measurements of an onboard calibration target. Within the first 1000 sols of the mission, Mastcam observed a spectrally diverse set of materials displaying absorption features consistent with the presence of iron-bearing silicate, iron oxide, and iron sulfate minerals. Dust-coated surfaces as well as soils possess a strong positive reflectance slope in the visible, consistent with the presence of nanophase iron oxides, which have long been considered the dominant visible-wavelength pigmenting agent in weathered martian surface materials. Fresh surfaces, such as tailings produced by the drill tool and the interiors of rocks broken by the rover wheels, are grayer in visible wavelengths than their reddish, dust-coated surfaces but possess reflectance spectra that vary considerably between sites. To understand the mineralogical basis of observed Mastcam reflectance spectra, we focus on a subset of the multispectral data set for which additional constraints on the composition of surface materials are available from other rover instruments, with an emphasis on sample sites for which detailed mineralogy is provided by the results of CheMin X-ray diffraction analyses. We also discuss the results of coordinated observations with the ChemCam instrument, whose passive mode of operation is capable of acquiring reflectance spectra over wavelengths that considerably overlap the range spanned by the Mastcam filter set (Johnson et al. 2016). Materials that show a distinct 430 nm band in ChemCam data also are observed to have a strong near-infrared absorption band in Mastcam spectral data, consistent with the presence of a ferric sulfate mineral. Long-distance Mastcam observations targeted toward the flanks of the Gale crater central mound are in agreement with both ChemCam spectra and orbital results, and in particular exhibit the spectral features of a crystalline hematite layer identified in MRO/CRISM data. Variations observed in Mastcam multi-filter images acquired to date have shown that multispectral observations can discriminate between compositionally different materials within Gale Crater and are in qualitative agreement with mineralogies from measured samples and orbital data.

Published
2017

26. Chemistry, mineralogy, and grain properties at Namib and High dunes, Bagnold dune field, Gale crater, Mars: A synthesis of Curiosity rover observations

Author

Victoria E. Hamilton, Albert S. Yen, Pamela G. Conrad, R. Gellert, D. W. Ming, Ashwin R. Vasavada, Mathieu G.A. Lapotre, Scott K. Rowland, Abigail A. Fraeman, Roger C. Wiens, David F. Blake, Kenneth S. Edgett, Jeffrey R. Johnson, C. D. O'Connell-Cooper, P.-Y. Meslin, D. T. Vaniman, Danika Wellington, Ryan C. Sullivan, Michelle E. Minitti, Kirsten L. Siebach, Nathaniel Stein, Agnes Cousin, Sylvestre Maurice, Robert T. Downs, Nathan T. Bridges, Cherie N. Achilles, Stephen Kuhn, Craig Hardgrove, Lucy M. Thompson, Travis Gabriel, Paul R. Mahaffy, M. L. Litvak, Susanne Schröder, R. V. Morris, J. M. Morookian, Raymond E. Arvidson, Bethany L. Ehlmann, Patrick Pinet, Brad Sutter, M. McHenry, Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Services communs OMP (UMS 831)

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Namib, 01 natural sciences, Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Research Articles, Martian, grain size, Mars Science Laboratory, Investigations of the Bagnold Dune Field, Gale crater, Mars Exploration Program, Mineralogy, Physical Properties of Materials, Grain size, Planetary Mineralogy and Petrology, Chemistry, Geophysics, volatiles, Aeolian processes, Erosion and Weathering, dust, Geology, Composition, Research Article, Dunes, Surface Materials and Properties, Bedform, Mars, engineering.material, Planetary Geochemistry, amorphous phase, Geochemistry and Petrology, 0103 physical sciences, Rover, Plagioclase, MSL, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets, Mineralogy and Petrology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Olivine, Mars soils, Bagnold, Geochemistry, sand dunes, Curiosity, Space and Planetary Science, [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics], Rocknest, engineering
Abstract

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover performed coordinated measurements to examine the textures and compositions of aeolian sands in the active Bagnold dune field. The Bagnold sands are rounded to subrounded, very fine to medium sized (~45–500 μm) with ≥6 distinct grain colors. In contrast to sands examined by Curiosity in a dust‐covered, inactive bedform called Rocknest and soils at other landing sites, Bagnold sands are darker, less red, better sorted, have fewer silt‐sized or smaller grains, and show no evidence for cohesion. Nevertheless, Bagnold mineralogy and Rocknest mineralogy are similar with plagioclase, olivine, and pyroxenes in similar proportions comprising >90% of crystalline phases, along with a substantial amorphous component (35% ± 15%). Yet Bagnold and Rocknest bulk chemistry differ. Bagnold sands are Si enriched relative to other soils at Gale crater, and H2O, S, and Cl are lower relative to all previously measured Martian soils and most Gale crater rocks. Mg, Ni, Fe, and Mn are enriched in the coarse‐sieved fraction of Bagnold sands, corroborated by visible/near‐infrared spectra that suggest enrichment of olivine. Collectively, patterns in major element chemistry and volatile release data indicate two distinctive volatile reservoirs in Martian soils: (1) amorphous components in the sand‐sized fraction (represented by Bagnold) that are Si‐enriched, hydroxylated alteration products and/or H2O‐ or OH‐bearing impact or volcanic glasses and (2) amorphous components in the fine fraction (, Key Points Because of ongoing aeolian activity, the Bagnold dunes consist of well‐sorted sands and lack the finer grains typical of Martian soilsDune sands are chemically distinct with elevated Si, Mg, and Ni and lower H2O, S, and Cl relative to all previously measured Martian finesTwo distinct, water‐/OH‐bearing amorphous components are identified: Fe‐, S‐, and Cl‐rich material in dust and Si‐rich material in the sands

Published
2017

27. Using VSWIR microimaging spectroscopy to explore the mineralogical diversity of HED meteorites

Author

Rebecca N. Greenberger, Yang Liu, Meenakshi Wadhwa, Bethany L. Ehlmann, Abigail A. Fraeman, and Geraint W. D. Northwood-Smith

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Meteorite, Mineralogy, Hyperspectral imaging, Spectral diversity, 010502 geochemistry & geophysics, Spectroscopy, 01 natural sciences, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

We use VSWIR microimaging spectroscopy to survey the spectral diversity of HED meteorites at 80-μm/pixel spatial scale. Our goal in this work is both to explore the emerging capabilities of microimaging VSWIR spectroscopy and to contribute to understanding the petrologic diversity of the HED suite and the evolution of Vesta. Using a combination of manual and automated hyperspectral classification techniques, we identify four major classes of materials based on VSWIR absorptions that include pyroxene, olivine, Fe-bearing feldspars, and glass-bearing/featureless materials. Results show microimaging spectroscopy is an effective method for rapidly and non-destructively characterizing small compositional variations of meteorite samples and for locating rare phases for possible follow-up investigation. Future work will include incorporating SEM/EDS results to quantify sources of spectral variability and placing observations within a broader geologic framework of the differentiation and evolution of Vesta.

Published
2016

28. Constraints on iron sulfate and iron oxide mineralogy from ChemCam visible/near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy of Mt. Sharp basal units, Gale Crater, Mars

Author

David T. Vaniman, Diana L. Blaney, James F. Bell, Stéphane Le Mouélic, Sylvestre Maurice, Roger C. Wiens, Olivier Gasnault, Bethany L. Ehlmann, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Elizabeth B. Rampe, Edward A. Cloutis, Abigail A. Fraeman, S. Bender, Kjartan M. Kinch, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD] (APL), The Alan Turing Institute, Planetary Science Institute [Tucson] (PSI), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology (CALTECH)-NASA, Department of Geography [Winnipeg], University of Winnipeg, California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), NASA, and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Pyroxene, engineering.material, 01 natural sciences, chemistry.chemical_compound, Geochemistry and Petrology, 0103 physical sciences, Jarosite, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Magnetite, Basalt, Olivine, Mars Exploration Program, Hematite, Geophysics, chemistry, 13. Climate action, [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics], visual_art, engineering, visual_art.visual_art_medium, Clay minerals, Geology
Abstract

Relative reflectace point spectra (400–840 nm) were acquired by the Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity in passive mode (no laser) of drill tailings and broken rock fragments near the rover as it entered the lower reaches of Mt. Sharp and of landforms at distances of 2–8 km. Freshly disturbed surfaces are less subject to the spectral masking effects of dust, and revealed spectral features consistent with the presence of iron oxides and ferric sulfates. We present the first detection on Mars of a ~433 nm absorption band consistent with small abundances of ferric sulfates, corroborated by jarosite detections by the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) X-ray diffraction instrument in the Mojave, Telegraph Peak, and Confidence Hills drilled samples. Disturbed materials near the Bonanza King region also exhibited strong 433 nm bands and negative near-infrared spectral slopes consistent with jarosite. ChemCam passive spectra of the Confidence Hills and Mojave drill tailings showed features suggestive of the crystalline hematite identified by CheMin analyses. The Windjana drill sample tailings exhibited flat, low relative reflectance spectra, explained by the occurrence of magnetite detected by CheMin. Passive spectra of Bonanza King were similar, suggesting the presence of spectrally dark and neutral minerals such as magnetite. Long-distance spectra of the “Hematite Ridge” feature (3–5 km from the rover) exhibited features consistent with crystalline hematite. The Bagnold dune field north of the Hematite Ridge area exhibited low relative reflectance and near-infrared features indicative of basaltic materials (olivine, pyroxene). Light-toned layers south of Hematite Ridge lacked distinct spectral features in the 400–840 nm region, and may represent portions of nearby clay minerals and sulfates mapped with orbital near-infrared observations. The presence of ferric sulfates such as jarosite in the drill tailings suggests a relatively acidic environment, likely associated with flow of iron-bearing fluids, associated oxidation, and/or hydrothermal leaching of sedimentary rocks. Combined with other remote sensing data sets, mineralogical constraints from ChemCam passive spectra will continue to play an important role in interpreting the mineralogy and composition of materials encountered as Curiosity traverses further south within the basal layers of the Mt. Sharp complex.

Published
2016

29. Large wind ripples on Mars: A record of atmospheric evolution

Author

Michael A. Mischna, Mathieu G.A. Lapotre, Abigail A. Fraeman, R. A. Yingst, Nathan T. Bridges, Kevin W. Lewis, D. J. Des Marais, Woodward W. Fischer, Dawn Y. Sumner, Melissa S. Rice, M. J. Ballard, Mitch D. Day, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, David M. Rubin, Michael P. Lamb, Steven G. Banham, Ashwin R. Vasavada, Ryan C. Ewing, John P. Grotzinger, Sanjeev Gupta, Douglas W. Ming, John A. Grant, and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Subjects
Ripple marks, Multidisciplinary, Bedform, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, General Science & Technology, Ripple, Stratification (water), Geophysics, Mars Exploration Program, 01 natural sciences, Billion years, law.invention, Astrobiology, Wavelength, Orbiter, law, 0103 physical sciences, MD Multidisciplinary, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Wind blowing over sand on Earth produces decimeter-wavelength ripples and hundred-meter– to kilometer-wavelength dunes: bedforms of two distinct size modes. Observations from the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal that Mars hosts a third stable wind-driven bedform, with meter-scale wavelengths. These bedforms are spatially uniform in size and typically have asymmetric profiles with angle-of-repose lee slopes and sinuous crest lines, making them unlike terrestrial wind ripples. Rather, these structures resemble fluid-drag ripples, which on Earth include water-worked current ripples, but on Mars instead form by wind because of the higher kinematic viscosity of the low-density atmosphere. A reevaluation of the wind-deposited strata in the Burns formation (about 3.7 billion years old or younger) identifies potential wind-drag ripple stratification formed under a thin atmosphere.

Published
2016

30. Evidence for indigenous nitrogen in sedimentary and aeolian deposits from the Curiosity rover investigations at Gale crater, Mars

Author

Stern, Jennifer C., Sutter, Brad, Freissinet, Caroline, Navarro-González, Rafael, McKay, Christopher P., Archer, P. Douglas, Buch, Arnaud, Brunner, Anna E., Coll, Patrice, Eigenbrode, Jennifer L., Fairen, Alberto G., Franz, Heather B., Glavin, Daniel P., Kashyap, Srishti, McAdam, Amy C., Ming, Douglas W., Steele, Andrew, Szopa, Cyril, Wray, James J., Martín-Torres, F. Javier, Zorzano, Maria-Paz, Conrad, Pamela G., Mahaffy, Paul R., Kemppinen, Osku, Bridges, Nathan, Johnson, Jeffrey R., Minitti, Michelle, Cremers, David, Bell, James F., Edgar, Lauren, Farmer, Jack, Godber, Austin, Wadhwa, Meenakshi, Wellington, Danika, McEwan, Ian, Newman, Claire, Richardson, Mark, Charpentier, Antoine, Peret, Laurent, King, Penelope, Blank, Jennifer, Weigle, Gerald, Schmidt, Mariek, Li, Shuai, Milliken, Ralph, Robertson, Kevin, Sun, Vivian, Baker, Michael, Edwards, Christopher, Ehlmann, Bethany, Farley, Kenneth, Griffes, Jennifer, Grotzinger, John, Miller, Hayden, Newcombe, Megan, Pilorget, Cedric, Rice, Melissa, Siebach, Kirsten, Stack, Katie, Stolper, Edward, Brunet, Claude, Hipkin, Victoria, Léveillé, Richard, Marchand, Geneviève, Sánchez, Pablo Sobrón, Favot, Laurent, Cody, George, Flückiger, Lorenzo, Lees, David, Nefian, Ara, Martin, Mildred, Gailhanou, Marc, Westall, Frances, Israël, Guy, Agard, Christophe, Baroukh, Julien, Donny, Christophe, Gaboriaud, Alain, Guillemot, Philippe, Lafaille, Vivian, Lorigny, Eric, Paillet, Alexis, Pérez, René, Saccoccio, Muriel, Yana, Charles, Armiens-Aparicio, Carlos, Rodríguez, Javier Caride, Blázquez, Isaías Carrasco, Gómez, Felipe Gómez, Gómez-Elvira, Javier, Hettrich, Sebastian, Malvitte, Alain Lepinette, Jiménez, Mercedes Marín, Martínez-Frías, Jesús, Martín-Soler, Javier, Torres, F. Javier Martín, Jurado, Antonio Molina, Mora-Sotomayor, Luis, Caro, Guillermo Muñoz, López, Sara Navarro, Peinado-González, Verónica, Pla-García, Jorge, Manfredi, José Antonio Rodriguez, Romeral-Planelló, Julio José, Fuentes, Sara Alejandra Sans, Martinez, Eduardo Sebastian, Redondo, Josefina Torres, Urqui-O'Callaghan, Roser, Mier, María-Paz Zorzano, Chipera, Steve, Lacour, Jean-Luc, Mauchien, Patrick, Sirven, Jean-Baptiste, Manning, Heidi, Fairén, Alberto, Hayes, Alexander, Joseph, Jonathan, Squyres, Steven, Sullivan, Robert, Thomas, Peter, Dupont, Audrey, Lundberg, Angela, Melikechi, Noureddine, Mezzacappa, Alissa, DeMarines, Julia, Grinspoon, David, Reitz, Günther, Prats, Benito, Atlaskin, Evgeny, Genzer, Maria, Harri, Ari-Matti, Haukka, Harri, Kahanpää, Henrik, Kauhanen, Janne, Paton, Mark, Polkko, Jouni, Schmidt, Walter, Siili, Tero, Fabre, Cécile, Wray, James, Wilhelm, Mary Beth, Poitrasson, Franck, Patel, Kiran, Gorevan, Stephen, Indyk, Stephen, Paulsen, Gale, Gupta, Sanjeev, Bish, David, Schieber, Juergen, Gondet, Brigitte, Langevin, Yves, Geffroy, Claude, Baratoux, David, Berger, Gilles, Cros, Alain, d’Uston, Claude, Forni, Olivier, Gasnault, Olivier, Lasue, Jérémie, Lee, Qiu-Mei, Maurice, Sylvestre, Meslin, Pierre-Yves, Pallier, Etienne, Parot, Yann, Pinet, Patrick, Schröder, Susanne, Toplis, Mike, Lewin, Éric, Brunner, Will, Heydari, Ezat, Achilles, Cherie, Oehler, Dorothy, Cabane, Michel, Coscia, David, Dromart, Gilles, Robert, François, Sautter, Violaine, Le Mouélic, Stéphane, Mangold, Nicolas, Nachon, Marion, Stalport, Fabien, François, Pascaline, Raulin, François, Teinturier, Samuel, Cameron, James, Clegg, Sam, Cousin, Agnès, DeLapp, Dorothea, Dingler, Robert, Jackson, Ryan Steele, Johnstone, Stephen, Lanza, Nina, Little, Cynthia, Nelson, Tony, Wiens, Roger C., Williams, Richard B., Jones, Andrea, Kirkland, Laurel, Treiman, Allan, Baker, Burt, Cantor, Bruce, Caplinger, Michael, Davis, Scott, Duston, Brian, Edgett, Kenneth, Fay, Donald, Hardgrove, Craig, Harker, David, Herrera, Paul, Jensen, Elsa, Kennedy, Megan R., Krezoski, Gillian, Krysak, Daniel, Lipkaman, Leslie, Malin, Michael, McCartney, Elaina, McNair, Sean, Nixon, Brian, Posiolova, Liliya, Ravine, Michael, Salamon, Andrew, Saper, Lee, Stoiber, Kevin, Supulver, Kimberley, Van Beek, Jason, Van Beek, Tessa, Zimdar, Robert, French, Katherine Louise, Iagnemma, Karl, Miller, Kristen, Summons, Roger, Goesmann, Fred, Goetz, Walter, Hviid, Stubbe, Johnson, Micah, Lefavor, Matthew, Lyness, Eric, Breves, Elly, Dyar, M. Darby, Fassett, Caleb, Blake, David F., Bristow, Thomas, DesMarais, David, Edwards, Laurence, Haberle, Robert, Hoehler, Tori, Hollingsworth, Jeff, Kahre, Melinda, Keely, Leslie, McKay, Christopher, Bleacher, Lora, Brinckerhoff, William, Choi, David, Conrad, Pamela, Dworkin, Jason P., Eigenbrode, Jennifer, Floyd, Melissa, Garvin, James, Glavin, Daniel, Harpold, Daniel, Mahaffy, Paul, Martin, David K., McAdam, Amy, Pavlov, Alexander, Raaen, Eric, Smith, Michael D., Stern, Jennifer, Tan, Florence, Trainer, Melissa, Meyer, Michael, Posner, Arik, Voytek, Mary, Anderson, Robert C, Aubrey, Andrew, Beegle, Luther W., Behar, Alberto, Blaney, Diana, Brinza, David, Calef, Fred, Christensen, Lance, Crisp, Joy A., DeFlores, Lauren, Feldman, Jason, Feldman, Sabrina, Flesch, Gregory, Hurowitz, Joel, Jun, Insoo, Keymeulen, Didier, Maki, Justin, Mischna, Michael, Morookian, John Michael, Parker, Timothy, Pavri, Betina, Schoppers, Marcel, Sengstacken, Aaron, Simmonds, John J., Spanovich, Nicole, Juarez, Manuel de la Torre, Vasavada, Ashwin R., Webster, Christopher R., Yen, Albert, Archer, Paul Douglas, Cucinotta, Francis, Jones, John H., Ming, Douglas, Morris, Richard V., Niles, Paul, Rampe, Elizabeth, Nolan, Thomas, Fisk, Martin, Radziemski, Leon, Barraclough, Bruce, Bender, Steve, Berman, Daniel, Dobrea, Eldar Noe, Tokar, Robert, Vaniman, David, Williams, Rebecca M. E., Yingst, Aileen, Lewis, Kevin, Leshin, Laurie, Cleghorn, Timothy, Huntress, Wesley, Manhès, Gérard, Hudgins, Judy, Olson, Timothy, Stewart, Noel, Sarrazin, Philippe, Grant, John, Vicenzi, Edward, Wilson, Sharon A., Bullock, Mark, Ehresmann, Bent, Hamilton, Victoria, Hassler, Donald, Peterson, Joseph, Rafkin, Scot, Zeitlin, Cary, Fedosov, Fedor, Golovin, Dmitry, Karpushkina, Natalya, Kozyrev, Alexander, Litvak, Maxim, Malakhov, Alexey, Mitrofanov, Igor, Mokrousov, Maxim, Nikiforov, Sergey, Prokhorov, Vasily, Sanin, Anton, Tretyakov, Vladislav, Varenikov, Alexey, Vostrukhin, Andrey, Kuzmin, Ruslan, Clark, Benton, Wolff, Michael, McLennan, Scott, Botta, Oliver, Drake, Darrell, Bean, Keri, Lemmon, Mark, Schwenzer, Susanne P., Anderson, Ryan B., Herkenhoff, Kenneth, Lee, Ella Mae, Sucharski, Robert, Hernández, Miguel Ángel de Pablo, Ávalos, Juan José Blanco, Ramos, Miguel, Kim, Myung-Hee, Malespin, Charles, Plante, Ianik, Muller, Jan-Peter, Ewing, Ryan, Boynton, William, Downs, Robert, Fitzgibbon, Mike, Harshman, Karl, Morrison, Shaunna, Dietrich, William, Kortmann, Onno, Palucis, Marisa, Sumner, Dawn Y., Williams, Amy, Lugmair, Günter, Wilson, Michael A., Rubin, David, Jakosky, Bruce, Balic-Zunic, Tonci, Frydenvang, Jens, Jensen, Jaqueline Kløvgaard, Kinch, Kjartan, Koefoed, Asmus, Madsen, Morten Bo, Stipp, Susan Louise Svane, Boyd, Nick, Campbell, John L., Gellert, Ralf, Perrett, Glynis, Pradler, Irina, VanBommel, Scott, Jacob, Samantha, Owen, Tobias, Rowland, Scott, Savijärvi, Hannu, Boehm, Eckart, Böttcher, Stephan, Burmeister, Sönke, Guo, Jingnan, Köhler, Jan, García, César Martín, Mueller-Mellin, Reinhold, Wimmer-Schweingruber, Robert, Bridges, John C., McConnochie, Timothy, Benna, Mehdi, Franz, Heather, Bower, Hannah, Brunner, Anna, Blau, Hannah, Boucher, Thomas, Carmosino, Marco, Atreya, Sushil, Elliott, Harvey, Halleaux, Douglas, Rennó, Nilton, Wong, Michael, Pepin, Robert, Elliott, Beverley, Spray, John, Thompson, Lucy, Gordon, Suzanne, Newsom, Horton, Ollila, Ann, Williams, Joshua, Vasconcelos, Paulo, Bentz, Jennifer, Nealson, Kenneth, Popa, Radu, Kah, Linda C., Moersch, Jeffrey, Tate, Christopher, Day, Mackenzie, Kocurek, Gary, Hallet, Bernard, Sletten, Ronald, Francis, Raymond, McCullough, Emily, Cloutis, Ed, ten Kate, Inge Loes, Arvidson, Raymond, Fraeman, Abigail, Scholes, Daniel, Slavney, Susan, Stein, Thomas, Ward, Jennifer, Berger, Jeffrey, Moores, John E., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), NASA, Laboratorio de Química de Plasmas y Estudios Planetarios [Mexico], Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares [Mexico], Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México = National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México = National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux - EA 4038 (LGPM), CentraleSupélec, ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE), Arizona State University [Tempe] (ASU), Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA (UMR_7583)), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Department of Astronomy [Ithaca], Cornell University [New York], Centro de Astrobiologia [Madrid] (CAB), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC), Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology [GSFC] (CRESST), Centre de Recherche Public Henri Tudor [Technoport] (CRP Henri Tudor), Centre de Recherche Public Henri-Tudor [Luxembourg] (CRP Henri-Tudor), Department of Microbiology [Amherst], University of Massachusetts [Amherst] (UMass Amherst), University of Massachusetts System (UMASS)-University of Massachusetts System (UMASS), Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES), NASA-NASA, Geophysical Laboratory [Carnegie Institution], Carnegie Institution for Science, PLANETO - LATMOS, Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences [Atlanta], Georgia Institute of Technology [Atlanta], Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC)-Universidad de Granada (UGR), Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering [Luleå], Luleå University of Technology (LUT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Carnegie Institution for Science [Washington], Universidad de Granada (UGR)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC), Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Cornell University, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Spain] (CSIC), Department of Microbiology, IMPEC - LATMOS, Universidad de Granada (UGR)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Spain] (CSIC), and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC)-Universidad de Granada = University of Granada (UGR)

Subjects
Martian, Multidisciplinary, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Water on Mars, nitrates, astrobiology, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Mars, Mars Exploration Program, 01 natural sciences, nitrogen, Astrobiology, Curiosity, 13. Climate action, Rocknest, 0103 physical sciences, Sample Analysis at Mars, Physical Sciences, Aeolian processes, Composition of Mars, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Nitrogen cycle, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

International audience; The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has detected oxidized nitrogen-bearing compounds during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled sedimentary deposits within Gale crater. Total N concentrations ranged from 20 to 250 nmol N per sample. After subtraction of known N sources in SAM, our results support the equivalent of 110–300 ppm of nitrate in the Rocknest (RN) aeolian samples, and 70–260 and 330–1,100 ppm nitrate in John Klein (JK) and Cumberland (CB) mudstone deposits, respectively. Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and, specifically, for the potential evolution of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The detection of nitrate in both wind-drifted fines (RN) and in mudstone (JK, CB) is likely a result of N2 fixation to nitrate generated by thermal shock from impact or volcanic plume lightning on ancient Mars. Fixed nitrogen could have facilitated the development of a primitive nitrogen cycle on the surface of ancient Mars, potentially providing a biochemically accessible source of nitrogen.

Published
2015

31. Volatile and Organic Compositions of Sedimentary Rocks in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars

Author

M. A. Meyer, Mark I. Richardson, Robert C. Anderson, Marisa C. Palucis, Sara Navarro Lopez, Rodney C. Ewing, Sanjeev Gupta, Caroline Freissinet, Edward M. Stolper, James F. Bell, M. A. Ravine, I. G. Mitrofanov, Thomas F. Bristow, Dawn Y. Sumner, Joel A. Hurowitz, Robert M. Haberle, Claire E. Newman, Andrew Steele, Muriel Saccoccio, Leslie Keely, E. Pallier, Jason P. Dworkin, Claude Geffroy, Mary A. Voytek, Michael Caplinger, Fred Goesmann, Yann Parot, Maria-Paz Zorzano Mier, A. B. Sanin, S. W. Squyres, Javier Caride Rodriguez, J. L. Griffes, Julio José Romeral-Planello, Jason Feldman, Katherine L. French, V. Sautter, Nicolas Mangold, David L. Bish, Vivian Lafaille, Michael D. Smith, François Raulin, V. Prokhorov, Gilles Berger, S. Slavney, Heather B. Franz, S. Johnstone, Susanne P. Schwenzer, Felipe Gómez, Harri Haukka, Francis A. Cucinotta, J. Hudgins, T. Cleghorn, Pascaline Francois, Alain Lepinette Malvitte, Shuai Li, Paul R. Mahaffy, K. M. Robertson, Bruce M. Jakosky, J. Guo, Juergen Schieber, Rafael Navarro-González, G. J. Flesch, Scott M. McLennan, Jennifer G. Blank, M. Carmosino, Kenneth A. Farley, Yves Langevin, P. D. Archer, A. E. Brunner, M. D. Dyar, S. Le Mouélic, V. Hipkin, Sara Alejandra Sans Fuentes, Kenneth S. Edgett, Sabrina Feldman, Gale Paulsen, Paul Herrera, Alberto G. Fairén, Kirsten L. Siebach, Jan-Peter Muller, M. J. Schoppers, Eldar Noe Dobrea, Nina Lanza, Marc Gailhanou, Genevieve Marchand, Sönke Burmeister, Craig Hardgrove, Justin N. Maki, Ari-Matti Harri, Michael C. Malin, M. J. Wolff, Roger E. Summons, H. Blau, Jacqueline Cameron, Jeff A. Berger, Didier Keymeulen, Agnes Cousin, Guillermo M. Muñoz Caro, Eric Lyness, Cedric Pilorget, Michael B. Baker, Christopher S. Edwards, M. L. Litvak, Brian M. Duston, Rebecca M. E. Williams, T. Nolan, Robert T. Downs, V. E. Hamilton, Walter Goetz, Pamela G. Conrad, J. Baroukh, Nathan T. Bridges, Meenakshi Wadhwa, Roger C. Wiens, Samuel M. Clegg, Philippe Sarrazin, L. Bleacher, Eric Lorigny, Mike Toplis, Michael H. Wong, Timothy H. McConnochie, Ian Mcewan, Kiran Patel, Mary Beth Wilhelm, John P. Grotzinger, Jeffrey E. Moersch, Michael A. Wilson, Mark Paton, I. Plante, Eric Lewin, Franck Poitrasson, Tori M. Hoehler, P. Guillemot, Mackenzie Day, David F. Blake, José Antonio Rodríguez Manfredi, G. W. Lugmair, Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber, Dorothy Z. Oehler, Samuel Teinturier, Bent Ehresmann, Jérémie Lasue, K. E. Herkenhoff, Daniel C. Berman, Scott VanBommel, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Emily M. McCullough, A. A. Fraeman, Ezat Heydari, Penelope L. King, K. M. Stack, Diana L. Blaney, A. Salamon, John G. Spray, L. Posiolova, Jeff Hollingsworth, David Choi, Kevin W. Lewis, B. D. Prats, Tonci Balic-Zunic, Mehdi Benna, H. M. Elliott, Jesús Martínez-Frías, R. Mueller-Mellin, William V. Boynton, Lance E. Christensen, Richard Leveille, John A. Grant, David E. Harker, J. M. Morookian, Caleb I. Fassett, S. Jacob, Donald Fay, R. Perez, Horton E. Newsom, Morten Madsen, M. G. Trainer, G. Israel, B. E. Nixon, Claude d’Uston, John E. Moores, Olivier Gasnault, Daniel J. Krysak, Vladislav Tretyakov, G. M. Perrett, Andrew D. Aubrey, L. E. Kirkland, F. Stalport, B. L. Barraclough, Alain Cros, Stephan Böttcher, Michel Cabane, William B. Brinckerhoff, Jack D. Farmer, James J. Wray, P. Y. Meslin, Arnaud Buch, Allan H. Treiman, S. C. R. Rafkin, B. C. Clark, Noureddine Melikechi, R. Jackson, Luther W. Beegle, Angela Lundberg, Bethany L. Ehlmann, William E. Dietrich, Karl Iagnemma, K. Supulver, Radu Popa, R. Zimdar, Melissa Floyd, Wesley T. Huntress, Paul B. Niles, D. M. Delapp, C. N.. Achilles, Darrell Drake, T. Nelson, Alain Gaboriaud, Verónica Peinado-Gonzalez, Edward P. Vicenzi, T. Boucher, Jennifer L. Eigenbrode, C. Tate, David J. Des Marais, F. Javier Martin-Torres, Antoine Charpentier, Chris Webster, Mildred P. Martin, Robert M. Sucharski, Lucy M. Thompson, Cyril Szopa, D. Halleaux, Antonio Molina Jurado, Richard V. Morris, Andrey Vostrukhin, Peter C. Thomas, Ara V. Nefian, Pablo Sobron Sanchez, Manuel de la Torre Juárez, B. Elliott, Hannu Savijärvi, J. Bentz, Sergey Nikiforov, S. Gordon, Shaunna M. Morrison, Jean-Luc Lacour, Günter Reitz, M. E. Newcombe, David E. Brinza, C. Yana, Gary Kocurek, L. J. Lipkaman, C. M. Garcia, Maria Genzer, Fred Calef, A. Godber, Stubbe F. Hviid, C. Donny, T. Van Beek, Ruslan O. Kuzmin, Alexander Hayes, T. S. Olson, George D. Cody, J. Martín-Soler, N. Karpushkina, John Bridges, Mercedes Jiménez, M. Lefavor, Sylvestre Maurice, H. L. K. Manning, Ralph E. Milliken, Susanne Schröder, N. Spanovich, L. J. Edwards, A. Koefoed, Roser Urqui-O'Callaghan, Eduardo Sebastian Martinez, Cary Zeitlin, Noël Stewart, David T. Vaniman, E. A. Breves, Laurent Favot, A. Varenikov, Gérard Manhès, R. B. Williams, David Martin, Steven J. Rowland, E. Boehm, Adrian P. Jones, Alexis Paillet, R. Francis, Sushil K. Atreya, Mariek E. Schmidt, David Baratoux, N. I. Boyd, Qiu-Mei Lee, I. L. ten Kate, Bernard Hallet, K. Stoiber, Vivian Z. Sun, M. R. Kennedy, Gillian M. Krezoski, Mark A. Bullock, T. Stein, Michelle E. Minitti, I. Pradler, Susan L. S. Stipp, Scott Davis, Robert O. Pepin, B. L. Ehlmann, Janne Kauhanen, Dmitry Golovin, Steve J. Chipera, Raymond E. Arvidson, Javier Gómez-Elvira, L. C. Kah, Melissa S. Rice, Isaias Carrasco Blazquez, Cécile Fabre, John J. Simmonds, Joy A. Crisp, Jens Frydenvang, Florence Tan, Julia DeMarines, S. P. Gorevan, Elizabeth B. Rampe, E. McCartney, Lauren DeFlores, K. Harshman, D. N. Harpold, J. Van Beek, Luis Mora-Sotomayor, Douglas W. Ming, Kristen E. Miller, John Campbell, Amy McAdam, L. Saper, Robert Sullivan, Lorenzo Fluckiger, Kjartan M. Kinch, Arik Posner, H. Bower, A. A. Pavlov, D. Scholes, Insoo Jun, Brigitte Gondet, Patrice Coll, Burt Baker, Donald M. Hassler, Ralf Gellert, Laurie A. Leshin, T. Siili, Gilles Dromart, Lauren A. Edgar, Ryan B. Anderson, Robert Dingler, Leon Radziemski, Jean-Baptiste Sirven, G. Weigle, Cynthia K. Little, A. Mezzacappa, Olivier Forni, A. S. Kozyrev, Edward A. Cloutis, Ashwin Vasavada, A. Behar, François Robert, D. M. Rubin, Alexey Malakhov, E. Jensen, T. C. Owen, Sebastien Hettrich, Miguel Ramos, B. Sutter, Melinda A. Kahre, Patrick Pinet, John H. Jones, Claude Brunet, B. Pavri, Nilton O. Renno, Evgeny Atlaskin, Laurent Peret, Maxim Mokrousov, David Lees, J. J. B. Avalos, Jennifer C. Stern, Ann Ollila, Josefina Torres Redondo, Miles J. Johnson, M. A. D. P. Hernandez, Daniel P. Glavin, Albert S. Yen, Christophe Agard, Jouni Polkko, Christopher P. McKay, J. Peterson, Oliver Botta, Mark T. Lemmon, Marion Nachon, K. M. Bean, Bruce A. Cantor, Jan Köhler, M. Fitzgibbon, Carlos Armiens-Aparicio, Jorge Pla-Garcia, Henrik Kahanpää, Frances Westall, Walter Schmidt, M.-H. Kim, Kenneth G. Miller, Sharon A. Wilson, S. McNair, O. Kortmann, David Grinspoon, E. M. Lee, S. Indyk, Osku Kemppinen, E. Raaen, Michael Mischna, R. S. Sletten, James B. Garvin, John M. Ward, R. L. Tokar, Paulo M. Vasconcelos, Charles Malespin, T. J. Parker, Aaron J. Sengstacken, S. Bender, Jean-Pierre Williams, F. Fedosov, Patrick Mauchien, Audrey Dupont, R. A. Yingst, David Coscia, David A. Cremers, Danika Wellington, Kenneth H. Nealson, J. K. Jensen, Martin R. Fisk, J. Joseph, Amy J. Williams, W. Brunner, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), NASA, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology [GSFC] (CRESST), PLANETO - LATMOS, Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA (UMR_7583)), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Department of Physics [Guelph], University of Guelph, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences [Ann Arbor] (AOSS), University of Michigan [Ann Arbor], University of Michigan System-University of Michigan System, ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE), Arizona State University [Tempe] (ASU), Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux - EA 4038 (LGPM), CentraleSupélec, Space Science and Astrobiology Division at Ames, NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences [Pasadena], California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA-California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Department of Astronomy [Ithaca], Cornell University [New York], Center for Earth and Planetary Studies [Washington] (CEPS), Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution-Smithsonian Institution, Department of Earth Science and Technology [Imperial College London], Imperial College London, United States Geological Survey [Reston] (USGS), Department of Geosciences [Stony Brook], Stony Brook University [SUNY] (SBU), State University of New York (SUNY)-State University of New York (SUNY), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Princeton University, State University of New York (SUNY), Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences [MIT, Cambridge] (EAPS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences [Knoxville], The University of Tennessee [Knoxville], Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares [Mexico], Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México = National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Geophysical Laboratory [Carnegie Institution], Carnegie Institution for Science, Department of Earth and Planetary Science [UC Berkeley] (EPS), University of California [Berkeley] (UC Berkeley), University of California (UC)-University of California (UC), NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Lunar and Planetary Institute [Houston] (LPI), Planetary Science Institute [Tucson] (PSI), School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences [Atlanta], Georgia Institute of Technology [Atlanta], Aalto University, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD] (APL), Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), Center for Meteorite Studies [Tempe], Ashima Research, ATOS Origin, Australian National University (ANU), Bay Area Environmental Research Institute (BAER), Big Head Endian LLC, Brock University [Canada], Brown University, Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Capgemini Consulting [Paris], Carnegie Mellon University [Pittsburgh] (CMU), Catholic University of America, Institut des Matériaux, de Microélectronique et des Nanosciences de Provence (IM2NP), Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Université de Toulon (UTLN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre de biophysique moléculaire (CBM), Université d'Orléans (UO)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES), Centro de Astrobiologia [Madrid] (CAB), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC), Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Service de la Corrosion et du Comportement des Matériaux dans leur Environnement (SCCME), Département de Physico-Chimie (DPC), CEA-Direction des Energies (ex-Direction de l'Energie Nucléaire) (CEA-DES (ex-DEN)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris-Saclay-CEA-Direction des Energies (ex-Direction de l'Energie Nucléaire) (CEA-DES (ex-DEN)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris-Saclay, Laboratoire d'Interaction Laser Matière (LILM), Concordia College, Moorhead, CS-Systèmes d'Information [Toulouse] (CS-SI), Delaware State University (DSU), Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), GeoRessources, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre de recherches sur la géologie des matières premières minérales et énergétiques (CREGU)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Global Science and Technology, Inc., Honeybee Robotics Ltd, Indiana University [Bloomington], Indiana University System, Institut d'astrophysique spatiale (IAS), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Chimie des Milieux et Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Université de Poitiers-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Institut des Sciences de la Terre (ISTerre), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut Français des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l'Aménagement et des Réseaux (IFSTTAR)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut de recherche pour le développement [IRD] : UR219-PRES Université de Grenoble-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Jackson State University (JSU), Jacobs Technology ESCG, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon - Terre, Planètes, Environnement [Lyon] (LGL-TPE), École normale supérieure - Lyon (ENS Lyon)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Minéralogie et Cosmochimie du Muséum (LMCM), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Space Remote Sensing Group (ISR-2), Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS), Depertment of Polymer Chemistry, Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung (MPS), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, DLR Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), NASA Headquarters, Oregon State University (OSU), Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI), Smithsonian Institution, Department of Space Studies [Boulder], Southwest Research Institute [Boulder] (SwRI), Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI), Russian Academy of Sciences [Moscow] (RAS), TechSource Inc., Texas A&M University [College Station], The Open University [Milton Keynes] (OU), University of Arizona, Met Office Hadley Centre for Climate Change (MOHC), United Kingdom Met Office [Exeter], Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics [Boulder] (LASP), University of Colorado [Boulder], Niels Bohr Institute [Copenhagen] (NBI), Faculty of Science [Copenhagen], University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH), Institute for Astronomy [Honolulu], University of Hawai‘i [Mānoa] (UHM), California Institute of Technology (CALTECH)-NASA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Carnegie Institution for Science [Washington], University of California [Berkeley], University of California-University of California, Université de Toulon (UTLN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Université d'Orléans (UO)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre de recherches sur la géologie des matières premières minérales et énergétiques (CREGU)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-PRES Université de Grenoble-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut Français des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l'Aménagement et des Réseaux (IFSTTAR)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut de recherche pour le développement [IRD] : UR219-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry]), University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (KU)-University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (KU), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National d’Études Spatiales [Paris] (CNES), Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon - Terre, Planètes, Environnement (LGL-TPE), École normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne (UJM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung = Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), NWO-NSO: The role of perchlorates in the preservation of organic compounds on Mars, Petrology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC)-Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École normale supérieure - Lyon (ENS Lyon), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN), and Kruch, Catherine

Subjects
Geologic Sediments, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Extraterrestrial Environment, Curiosity rover, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Mineralogy, [SDU.ASTR.EP] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Mars, Sulfides, 01 natural sciences, organic compositions, Bassanite, 0103 physical sciences, Exobiology, [SDU.ASTR.SR] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Solar and Stellar Astrophysics [astro-ph.SR], Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated, MSL, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Total organic carbon, Martian, mudstone samples, Volatile Organic Compounds, Multidisciplinary, [SDU.ASTR.SR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Solar and Stellar Astrophysics [astro-ph.SR], Water, Mars Exploration Program, Carbon Dioxide, Oxygen, Bays, 13. Climate action, Rocknest, Sample Analysis at Mars, Sedimentary rock, Pyrolysis
Abstract

H 2 O, CO 2 , SO 2 , O 2 , H 2 , H 2 S, HCl, chlorinated hydrocarbons, NO, and other trace gases were evolved during pyrolysis of two mudstone samples acquired by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay within Gale crater, Mars. H 2 O/OH-bearing phases included 2:1 phyllosilicate(s), bassanite, akaganeite, and amorphous materials. Thermal decomposition of carbonates and combustion of organic materials are candidate sources for the CO 2 . Concurrent evolution of O 2 and chlorinated hydrocarbons suggests the presence of oxychlorine phase(s). Sulfides are likely sources for sulfur-bearing species. Higher abundances of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the mudstone compared with Rocknest windblown materials previously analyzed by Curiosity suggest that indigenous martian or meteoritic organic carbon sources may be preserved in the mudstone; however, the carbon source for the chlorinated hydrocarbons is not definitively of martian origin.

Published
2014

32. Martian fluvial conglomerates at gale crater

Author

Williams, R. M. E., Grotzinger, J. P., Dietrich, W. E., Gupta, S., Sumner, D. Y., Wiens, R. C., Mangold, N., Malin, M. C., Edgett, K. S., Maurice, S., Forni, O., Gasnault, O., Ollila, A., Newsom, H. E., Dromart, G., Palucis, M. C., Yingst, R. A., Anderson, R. B., Herkenhoff, K. E., Le Mouelic, S., Goetz, W., Madsen, M. B., Koefoed, A., Jensen, J. K., Bridges, J. C., Schwenzer, S. P., Lewis, K. W., Stack, K. M., Rubin, D., Kah, L. C., Bell, J. F., Farmer, J. D., Sullivan, R., Van Beek, T., Blaney, D. L., Pariser, O., Deen, R. G., Kemppinen, O., Bridges, N., Johnson, J. R., Minitti, M., Cremers, D., Edgar, L., Godber, A., Wadhwa, M., Wellington, D., McEwan, I., Newman, C., Richardson, M., Charpentier, A., Peret, L., King, P., Blank, J., Weigle, G., Schmidt, M., Li, S., Milliken, R., Robertson, K., Sun, V., Baker, M., Edwards, C., Ehlmann, B., Farley, K., Griffes, J., Miller, H., Newcombe, M., Pilorget, C., Rice, M., Siebach, K., Stolper, E., Brunet, C., Hipkin, V., Leveille, R., Marchand, G., Sobron Sanchez, P., Favot, L., Cody, G., Steele, A., Fluckiger, L., Lees, D., Nefian, A., Martin, M., Gailhanou, M., Westall, F., Israel, G., Agard, C., Baroukh, J., Donny, C., Gaboriaud, A., Guillemot, P., Lafaille, V., Lorigny, E., Paillet, A., Perez, R., Saccoccio, M., Yana, C., Aparicio, C. A., Caride Rodriguez, J., Carrasco Blazquez, I., Gomez Gomez, F., Elvira, J. G., Hettrich, S., Lepinette Malvitte, A., Marin Jimenez, M., Frias, J. M., Soler, J. M., Torres, F. J. M., Molina Jurado, A., Sotomayor, L. M., Munoz Caro, G., Navarro Lopez, S., Gonzalez, V. P., Garcia, J. P., Rodriguez Manfredi, J. A., Planello, J. J. R., Alejandra Sans Fuentes, S., Sebastian Martinez, E., Torres Redondo, J., O'Callaghan, R. U., Zorzano Mier, M.-P., Chipera, S., Lacour, J.-L., Mauchien, P., Sirven, J.-B., Manning, H., Fairen, A., Hayes, A., Joseph, J., Squyres, S., Thomas, P., Dupont, A., Lundberg, A., Melikechi, N., Mezzacappa, A., DeMarines, J., Grinspoon, D., Reitz, G., Prats, B., Atlaskin, E., Genzer, M., Harri, A.-M., Haukka, H., Kahanpaa, H., Kauhanen, J., Paton, M., Polkko, J., Schmidt, W., Siili, T., Fabre, C., Wray, J., Wilhelm, M. B., Poitrasson, F., Patel, K., Gorevan, S., Indyk, S., Paulsen, G., Bish, D., Schieber, J., Gondet, B., Langevin, Y., Geffroy, C., Baratoux, D., Berger, G., Cros, A., Uston, C. d., Lasue, J., Lee, Q.-M., Meslin, P.-Y., Pallier, E., Parot, Y., Pinet, P., Schroder, S., Toplis, M., Lewin, E., Brunner, W., Heydari, E., Achilles, C., Oehler, D., Sutter, B., Cabane, M., Coscia, D., Szopa, C., Robert, F., Sautter, V., Nachon, M., Buch, A., Stalport, F., Coll, P., Francois, P., Raulin, F., Teinturier, S., Cameron, J., Clegg, S., Cousin, A., DeLapp, D., Dingler, R., Jackson, R. S., Johnstone, S., Lanza, N., Little, C., Nelson, T., Williams, R. B., Jones, A., Kirkland, L., Treiman, A., Baker, B., Cantor, B., Caplinger, M., Davis, S., Duston, B., Fay, D., Hardgrove, C., Harker, D., Herrera, P., Jensen, E., Kennedy, M. R., Krezoski, G., Krysak, D., Lipkaman, L., McCartney, E., McNair, S., Nixon, B., Posiolova, L., Ravine, M., Salamon, A., Saper, L., Stoiber, K., Supulver, K., Van Beek, J., Zimdar, R., French, K. L., Iagnemma, K., Miller, K., Summons, R., Goesmann, F., Hviid, S., Johnson, M., Lefavor, M., Lyness, E., Breves, E., Dyar, M. D., Fassett, C., Blake, D. F., Bristow, T., DesMarais, D., Edwards, L., Haberle, R., Hoehler, T., Hollingsworth, J., Kahre, M., Keely, L., McKay, C., Bleacher, L., Brinckerhoff, W., Choi, D., Conrad, P., Dworkin, J. P., Eigenbrode, J., Floyd, M., Freissinet, C., Garvin, J., Glavin, D., Harpold, D., Mahaffy, P., Martin, D. K., McAdam, A., Pavlov, A., Raaen, E., Smith, M. D., Stern, J., Tan, F., Trainer, M., Meyer, M., Posner, A., Voytek, M., Anderson, R. C., Aubrey, A., Beegle, L. W., Behar, A., Brinza, D., Calef, F., Christensen, L., Crisp, J. A., DeFlores, L., Feldman, J., Feldman, S., Flesch, G., Hurowitz, J., Jun, I., Keymeulen, D., Maki, J., Mischna, M., Morookian, J. M., Parker, T., Pavri, B., Schoppers, M., Sengstacken, A., Simmonds, J. J., Spanovich, N., de la Torre Juarez, M., Vasavada, A. R., Webster, C. R., Yen, A., Archer, P. D., Cucinotta, F., Jones, J. H., Ming, D., Morris, R. V., Niles, P., Rampe, E., Nolan, T., Fisk, M., Radziemski, L., Barraclough, B., Bender, S., Berman, D., Dobrea, E. N., Tokar, R., Vaniman, D., Leshin, L., Cleghorn, T., Huntress, W., Manhes, G., Hudgins, J., Olson, T., Stewart, N., Sarrazin, P., Grant, J., Vicenzi, E., Wilson, S. A., Bullock, M., Ehresmann, B., Hamilton, V., Hassler, D., Peterson, J., Rafkin, S., Zeitlin, C., Fedosov, F., Golovin, D., Karpushkina, N., Kozyrev, A., Litvak, M., Malakhov, A., Mitrofanov, I., Mokrousov, M., Nikiforov, S., Prokhorov, V., Sanin, A., Tretyakov, V., Varenikov, A., Vostrukhin, A., Kuzmin, R., Clark, B., Wolff, M., McLennan, S., Botta, O., Drake, D., Bean, K., Lemmon, M., Lee, E. M., Sucharski, R., Hernandez, M. A. d. P., Blanco Avalos, J. J., Ramos, M., Kim, M.-H., Malespin, C., Plante, I., Muller, J.-P., Gonzalez, R. N., Ewing, R., Boynton, W., Downs, R., Fitzgibbon, M., Harshman, K., Morrison, S., Kortmann, O., Williams, A., Lugmair, G., Wilson, M. A., Jakosky, B., Zunic, T. B., Frydenvang, J., Kinch, K., Stipp, S. L. S., Boyd, N., Campbell, J. L., Gellert, R., Perrett, G., Pradler, I., VanBommel, S., Jacob, S., Owen, T., Rowland, S., Savijarvi, H., Boehm, E., Bottcher, S., Burmeister, S., Guo, J., Kohler, J., Garcia, C. M., Mellin, R. M., Schweingruber, R. W., McConnochie, T., Benna, M., Franz, H., Bower, H., Brunner, A., Blau, H., Boucher, T., Carmosino, M., Atreya, S., Elliott, H., Halleaux, D., Renno, N., Wong, M., Pepin, R., Elliott, B., Spray, J., Thompson, L., Gordon, S., Williams, J., Vasconcelos, P., Bentz, J., Nealson, K., Popa, R., Moersch, J., Tate, C., Day, M., Kocurek, G., Hallet, B., Sletten, R., Francis, R., McCullough, E., Cloutis, E., ten Kate, I. L., Arvidson, R., Fraeman, A., Scholes, D., Slavney, S., Stein, T., Ward, J., Berger, J., Moores, J. E., NWO-NSO: The role of perchlorates in the preservation of organic compounds on Mars, Petrology, GeoRessources, and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre de recherches sur la géologie des matières premières minérales et énergétiques (CREGU)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)

Subjects
MSL Mars Gale Crater Fluvial Activity, Martian, Multidisciplinary, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Outcrop, Curiosity rover, Geochemistry, Mars, Sediment, Fluvial, [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences, Mars Exploration Program, 01 natural sciences, Abrasion (geology), martian fluvial conglomerates, 13. Climate action, Rocknest, 0103 physical sciences, MSL, Sedimentary rock, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Going to Mars The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft containing the Curiosity rover, was launched from Earth in November 2011 and arrived at Gale crater on Mars in August 2012. Zeitlin et al. (p. 1080 ) report measurements of the energetic particle radiation environment inside the spacecraft during its cruise to Mars, confirming the hazard likely to be posed by this radiation to astronauts on a future potential trip to Mars. Williams et al. (p. 1068 , see the Perspective by Jerolmack ) report the detection of sedimentary conglomerates (pebbles mixed with sand and turned to rock) at Gale crater. The rounding of the rocks suggests abrasion of the pebbles as they were transported by flowing water several kilometers or more from their source.

Published
2013

33. Abundance and isotopic composition of gases in the martian atmosphere from the Curiosity rover

Author

Mahaffy, P. R., Webster, C. R., Atreya, S. K., Franz, H., Wong, M., Conrad, P. G., Harpold, D., Jones, J. J., Leshin, L. A., Manning, H., Owen, T., Pepin, R. O., Squyres, S., Trainer, M., Kemppinen, O., Bridges, N., Johnson, J. R., Minitti, M., Cremers, D., Bell, J. F., Edgar, L., Farmer, J., Godber, A., Wadhwa, M., Wellington, D., McEwan, I., Newman, C., Richardson, M., Charpentier, A., Peret, L., King, P., Blank, J., Weigle, G., Schmidt, M., Li, S., Milliken, R., Robertson, K., Sun, V., Baker, M., Edwards, C., Ehlmann, B., Farley, K., Griffes, J., Grotzinger, J., Miller, H., Newcombe, M., Pilorget, C., Rice, M., Siebach, K., Stack, K., Stolper, E., Brunet, C., Hipkin, V., Leveille, R., Marchand, G., Sanchez, P. S., Favot, L., Cody, G., Steele, A., Fluckiger, L., Lees, D., Nefian, A., Martin, M., Gailhanou, M., Westall, F., Israel, G., Agard, C., Baroukh, J., Donny, C., Gaboriaud, A., Guillemot, P., Lafaille, V., Lorigny, E., Paillet, A., Perez, R., Saccoccio, M., Yana, C., Armiens-Aparicio, C., Rodriguez, J. C., Blazquez, I. C., Gomez, F. G., Gomez-Elvira, J., Hettrich, S., Malvitte, A. L., Jimenez, M. M., Martinez-Frias, J., Martin-Soler, J., Martin-Torres, F. J., Jurado, A. M., Mora-Sotomayor, L., Caro, G. M., Lopez, S. N., Peinado-Gonzalez, V., Pla-Garcia, J., Manfredi, J. A. R., Romeral-Planello, J. J., Fuentes, S. A. S., Martinez, E. S., Redondo, J. T., Urqui-O'Callaghan, R., Mier, M.-P. Z., Chipera, S., Lacour, J.-L., Mauchien, P., Sirven, J.-B., Fairen, A., Hayes, A., Joseph, J., Sullivan, R., Thomas, P., Dupont, A., Lundberg, A., Melikechi, N., Mezzacappa, A., DeMarines, J., Grinspoon, D., Reitz, G., Prats, B., Atlaskin, E., Genzer, M., Harri, A.-M., Haukka, H., Kahanpaa, H., Kauhanen, J., Paton, M., Polkko, J., Schmidt, W., Siili, T., Fabre, C., Wray, J., Wilhelm, M. B., Poitrasson, F., Patel, K., Gorevan, S., Indyk, S., Paulsen, G., Gupta, S., Bish, D., Schieber, J., Gondet, B., Langevin, Y., Geffroy, C., Baratoux, D., Berger, G., Cros, A., d'Uston, C., Forni, O., Gasnault, O., Lasue, J., Lee, Q.-M., Maurice, S., Meslin, P.-Y., Pallier, E., Parot, Y., Pinet, P., Schroder, S., Toplis, M., Lewin, E., Brunner, W., Heydari, E., Achilles, C., Oehler, D., Sutter, B., Cabane, M., Coscia, D., Szopa, C., Dromart, G., Robert, F., Sautter, V., Le Mouelic, S., Mangold, N., Nachon, M., Buch, A., Stalport, F., Coll, P., Francois, P., Raulin, F., Teinturier, S., Cameron, J., Clegg, S., Cousin, A., DeLapp, D., Dingler, R., Jackson, R. S., Johnstone, S., Lanza, N., Little, C., Nelson, T., Wiens, R. C., Williams, R. B., Jones, A., Kirkland, L., Treiman, A., Baker, B., Cantor, B., Caplinger, M., Davis, S., Duston, B., Edgett, K., Fay, D., Hardgrove, C., Harker, D., Herrera, P., Jensen, E., Kennedy, M. R., Krezoski, G., Krysak, D., Lipkaman, L., Malin, M., McCartney, E., McNair, S., Nixon, B., Posiolova, L., Ravine, M., Salamon, A., Saper, L., Stoiber, K., Supulver, K., Van Beek, J., Van Beek, T., Zimdar, R., French, K. L., Iagnemma, K., Miller, K., Summons, R., Goesmann, F., Goetz, W., Hviid, S., Johnson, M., Lefavor, M., Lyness, E., Breves, E., Dyar, M. D., Fassett, C., Blake, D. F., Bristow, T., DesMarais, D., Edwards, L., Haberle, R., Hoehler, T., Hollingsworth, J., Kahre, M., Keely, L., McKay, C., Bleacher, L., Brinckerhoff, W., Choi, D., Dworkin, J. P., Eigenbrode, J., Floyd, M., Freissinet, C., Garvin, J., Glavin, D., Martin, D. K., McAdam, A., Pavlov, A., Raaen, E., Smith, M. D., Stern, J., Tan, F., Meyer, M., Posner, A., Voytek, M., Anderson, R. C., Aubrey, A., Beegle, L. W., Behar, A., Blaney, D., Brinza, D., Calef, F., Christensen, L., Crisp, J. A., DeFlores, L., Feldman, J., Feldman, S., Flesch, G., Hurowitz, J., Jun, I., Keymeulen, D., Maki, J., Mischna, M., Morookian, J. M., Parker, T., Pavri, B., Schoppers, M., Sengstacken, A., Simmonds, J. J., Spanovich, N., Juarez, M. d. l. T., Vasavada, A. R., Yen, A., Archer, P. D., Cucinotta, F., Ming, D., Morris, R. V., Niles, P., Rampe, E., Nolan, T., Fisk, M., Radziemski, L., Barraclough, B., Bender, S., Berman, D., Dobrea, E. N., Tokar, R., Vaniman, D., Williams, R. M. E., Yingst, A., Lewis, K., Cleghorn, T., Huntress, W., Manhes, G., Hudgins, J., Olson, T., Stewart, N., Sarrazin, P., Grant, J., Vicenzi, E., Wilson, S. A., Bullock, M., Ehresmann, B., Hamilton, V., Hassler, D., Peterson, J., Rafkin, S., Zeitlin, C., Fedosov, F., Golovin, D., Karpushkina, N., Kozyrev, A., Litvak, M., Malakhov, A., Mitrofanov, I., Mokrousov, M., Nikiforov, S., Prokhorov, V., Sanin, A., Tretyakov, V., Varenikov, A., Vostrukhin, A., Kuzmin, R., Clark, B., Wolff, M., McLennan, S., Botta, O., Drake, D., Bean, K., Lemmon, M., Schwenzer, S. P., Anderson, R. B., Herkenhoff, K., Lee, E. M., Sucharski, R., Hernandez, M. A. d. P., Avalos, J. J. B., Ramos, M., Kim, M.-H., Malespin, C., Plante, I., Muller, J.-P., Navarro-Gonzalez, R., Ewing, R., Boynton, W., Downs, R., Fitzgibbon, M., Harshman, K., Morrison, S., Dietrich, W., Kortmann, O., Palucis, M., Sumner, D. Y., Williams, A., Lugmair, G., Wilson, M. A., Rubin, D., Jakosky, B., Balic-Zunic, T., Frydenvang, J., Jensen, J. K., Kinch, K., Koefoed, A., Madsen, M. B., Stipp, S. L. S., Boyd, N., Campbell, J. L., Gellert, R., Perrett, G., Pradler, I., VanBommel, S., Jacob, S., Rowland, S., Savijarvi, H., Boehm, E., Bottcher, S., Burmeister, S., Guo, J., Kohler, J., Garcia, C. M., Mueller-Mellin, R., Wimmer-Schweingruber, R., Bridges, J. C., McConnochie, T., Benna, M., Bower, H., Brunner, A., Blau, H., Boucher, T., Carmosino, M., Elliott, H., Halleaux, D., Renno, N., Elliott, B., Spray, J., Thompson, L., Gordon, S., Newsom, H., Ollila, A., Williams, J., Vasconcelos, P., Bentz, J., Nealson, K., Popa, R., Kah, L. C., Moersch, J., Tate, C., Day, M., Kocurek, G., Hallet, B., Sletten, R., Francis, R., McCullough, E., Cloutis, E., ten Kate, I. L., Arvidson, R., Fraeman, A., Scholes, D., Slavney, S., Stein, T., Ward, J., Berger, J., Moores, J. E., GeoRessources, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre de recherches sur la géologie des matières premières minérales et énergétiques (CREGU)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), MSL Science Team, NWO-NSO: The role of perchlorates in the preservation of organic compounds on Mars, and Petrology

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Curiosity rover, chemistry.chemical_element, [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences, Mars, MSL Mars Atmosphere Isotopis Composition, martian atmosphere, 01 natural sciences, Astrobiology, Isotopic signature, chemistry.chemical_compound, 0103 physical sciences, MSL, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Martian, Multidisciplinary, δ13C, Atmosphere of Mars, Nitrogen, chemistry, 13. Climate action, Sample Analysis at Mars, Carbon dioxide, Environmental science, Carbon monoxide
Abstract

Mars' Atmosphere from Curiosity The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on the Curiosity rover that landed on Mars in August last year is designed to study the chemical and isotopic composition of the martian atmosphere. Mahaffy et al. (p. 263 ) present volume-mixing ratios of Mars' five major atmospheric constituents (CO 2 , Ar, N 2 , O 2 , and CO) and isotope measurements of 40 Ar/ 36 Ar and C and O in CO 2 , based on data from one of SAM's instruments, obtained between 31 August and 21 November 2012. Webster et al. (p. 260 ) used data from another of SAM's instruments obtained around the same period to determine isotope ratios of H, C, and O in atmospheric CO 2 and H 2 O. Agreement between the isotopic ratios measured by SAM with those of martian meteorites, measured in laboratories on Earth, confirms the origin of these meteorites and implies that the current atmospheric reservoirs of CO 2 and H 2 O were largely established after the period of early atmospheric loss some 4 billion years ago.

Published
2013

34. Curiosity at Gale Crater, Mars: Characterization and analysis of the rocknest sand shadow

Author

Blake, D. F., Morris, R. V., Kocurek, G., Morrison, S. M., Downs, R. T., Bish, D., Ming, D. W., Edgett, K. S., Rubin, D., Goetz, W., Madsen, M. B., Sullivan, R., Gellert, R., Campbell, I., Treiman, A. H., McLennan, S. M., Yen, A. S., Grotzinger, J., Vaniman, D. T., Chipera, S. J., Achilles, C. N., Rampe, E. B., Sumner, D., Meslin, P.- Y., Maurice, S., Forni, O., Gasnault, O., Fisk, M., Schmidt, M., Mahaffy, P., Leshin, L. A., Glavin, D., Steele, A., Freissinet, C., Navarro-Gonzalez, R., Yingst, R. A., Kah, L. C., Bridges, N., Lewis, K. W., Bristow, T. F., Farmer, J. D., Crisp, J. A., Stolper, E. M., Des Marais, D. J., Sarrazin, P., Agard, C., Alves Verdasca, J. A., Anderson, R., Archer, D., Armiens-Aparicio, C., Arvidson, R., Atlaskin, E., Atreya, S., Aubrey, A., Baker, B., Baker, M., Balic-Zunic, T., Baratoux, D., Baroukh, J., Barraclough, B., Bean, K., Beegle, L., Behar, A., Bell, J., Bender, S., Benna, M., Bentz, J., Berger, G., Berger, J., Berman, D., Blanco Avalos, J. J., Blaney, D., Blank, J., Blau, H., Bleacher, L., Boehm, E., Botta, O., Bottcher, S., Boucher, T., Bower, H., Boyd, N., Boynton, B., Breves, E., Bridges, J., Brinckerhoff, W., Brinza, D., Brunet, C., Brunner, A., Brunner, W., Buch, A., Bullock, M., Burmeister, S., Cabane, M., Calef, F., Cameron, J., Cantor, B., Caplinger, M., Rodriguez, J. C., Carmosino, M., Blazquez, I. C., Charpentier, A., Choi, D., Clark, B., Clegg, S., Cleghorn, T., Cloutis, E., Cody, G., Coll, P., Conrad, P., Coscia, D., Cousin, A., Cremers, D., Cros, A., Cucinotta, F., d'Uston, C., Davis, S., Day, M., Juarez, M. d. l. T., DeFlores, L., DeLapp, D., DeMarines, J., Dietrich, W., Dingler, R., Donny, C., Drake, D., Dromart, G., Dupont, A., Duston, B., Dworkin, J., Dyar, M. D., Edgar, L., Edwards, C., Edwards, L., Ehlmann, B., Ehresmann, B., Eigenbrode, J., Elliott, B., Elliott, H., Ewing, R., Fabre, C., Fairen, A., Farley, K., Fassett, C., Favot, L., Fay, D., Fedosov, F., Feldman, J., Feldman, S., Fitzgibbon, M., Flesch, G., Floyd, M., Fluckiger, L., Fraeman, A., Francis, R., Francois, P., Franz, H., French, K. L., Frydenvang, J., Gaboriaud, A., Gailhanou, M., Garvin, J., Geffroy, C., Genzer, M., Godber, A., Goesmann, F., Golovin, D., Gomez, F. G., Gomez-Elvira, J., Gondet, B., Gordon, S., Gorevan, S., Grant, J., Griffes, J., Grinspoon, D., Guillemot, P., Guo, J., Gupta, S., Guzewich, S., Haberle, R., Halleaux, D., Hallet, B., Hamilton, V., Hardgrove, C., Harker, D., Harpold, D., Harri, A.-M., Harshman, K., Hassler, D., Haukka, H., Hayes, A., Herkenhoff, K., Herrera, P., Hettrich, S., Heydari, E., Hipkin, V., Hoehler, T., Hollingsworth, J., Hudgins, J., Huntress, W., Hurowitz, J., Hviid, S., Iagnemma, K., Indyk, S., Israel, G., Jackson, R., Jacob, S., Jakosky, B., Jensen, E., Jensen, J. K., Johnson, J., Johnson, M., Johnstone, S., Jones, A., Jones, J., Joseph, J., Jun, I., Kahanpaa, H., Kahre, M., Karpushkina, N., Kasprzak, W., Kauhanen, J., Keely, L., Kemppinen, O., Keymeulen, D., Kim, M.-H., Kinch, K., King, P., Kirkland, L., Koefoed, A., Kohler, J., Kortmann, O., Kozyrev, A., Krezoski, J., Krysak, D., Kuzmin, R., Lacour, J. L., Lafaille, V., Langevin, Y., Lanza, N., Lasue, J., Le Mouelic, S., Lee, E. M., Lee, Q.-M., Lees, D., Lefavor, M., Lemmon, M., Lepinette Malvitte, A., Leveille, R., Lewin-Carpintier, E., Li, S., Lipkaman, L., Little, C., Litvak, M., Lorigny, E., Lugmair, G., Lundberg, A., Lyness, E., Maki, J., Malakhov, A., Malespin, C., Malin, M., Mangold, N., Manning, H., Marchand, G., Marin Jimenez, M., Martin Garcia, C., Martin, D., Martin, M., Martinez-Frias, J., Martin-Soler, J., Martin-Torres, F. J., Mauchien, P., McAdam, A., McCartney, E., McConnochie, T., McCullough, E., McEwan, I., McKay, C., McNair, S., Melikechi, N., Meyer, M., Mezzacappa, A., Miller, H., Miller, K., Milliken, R., Minitti, M., Mischna, M., Mitrofanov, I., Moersch, J., Mokrousov, M., Molina Jurado, A., Moores, J., Mora-Sotomayor, L., Morookian, J. M., Mueller-Mellin, R., Muller, J.-P., Munoz Caro, G., Nachon, M., Navarro Lopez, S., Nealson, K., Nefian, A., Nelson, T., Newcombe, M., Newman, C., Newsom, H., Nikiforov, S., Niles, P., Nixon, B., Dobrea, E. N., Nolan, T., Oehler, D., Ollila, A., Olson, T., Owen, T., Pablo, H., Paillet, A., Pallier, E., Palucis, M., Parker, T., Parot, Y., Patel, K., Paton, M., Paulsen, G., Pavlov, A., Pavri, B., Peinado-Gonzalez, V., Pepin, R., Peret, L., Perez, R., Perrett, G., Peterson, J., Pilorget, C., Pinet, P., Pla-Garcia, J., Plante, I., Poitrasson, F., Polkko, J., Popa, R., Posiolova, L., Pradler, I., Prats, B., Prokhorov, V., Purdy, S. W., Raaen, E., Radziemski, L., Rafkin, S., Ramos, M., Raulin, F., Ravine, M., Reitz, G., Renno, N., Rice, M., Richardson, M., Robert, F., Rodriguez Manfredi, J. A., Romeral-Planello, J. J., Rowland, S., Saccoccio, M., Salamon, A., Sandoval, J., Sanin, A., Sans Fuentes, S. A., Saper, L., Sautter, V., Savijarvi, H., Schieber, J., Schmidt, W., Scholes, D., Schoppers, M., Schroder, S., Sebastian Martinez, E., Sengstacken, A., Shterts, R., Siebach, K., Siili, T., Simmonds, J., Sirven, J.-B., Slavney, S., Sletten, R., Smith, M., Sobron Sanchez, P., Spanovich, N., Spray, J., Squyres, S., Stack, K., Stalport, F., Stein, T., Stern, J., Stewart, N., Stipp, S. L. S., Stoiber, K., Sucharski, B., Summons, R., Sun, V., Supulver, K., Sutter, B., Szopa, C., Tate, C., Teinturier, S., ten Kate, I. L., Thomas, P., Thompson, L., Tokar, R., Toplis, M., Torres Redondo, J., Trainer, M., Tretyakov, V., Urqui-O'Callaghan, R., Van Beek, J., Van Beek, T., VanBommel, S., Varenikov, A., Vasavada, A., Vasconcelos, P., Vicenzi, E., Vostrukhin, A., Voytek, M., Wadhwa, M., Ward, J., Webster, C., Weigle, E., Wellington, D., Westall, F., Wiens, R. C., Wilhelm, M. B., Williams, A., Williams, J., Williams, R., Williams, R. B., Wilson, M., Wimmer-Schweingruber, R., Wolff, M., Wong, M., Wray, J., Wu, M., Yana, C., Zeitlin, C., Zimdar, R., Zorzano Mier, M.-P., GeoRessources, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre de recherches sur la géologie des matières premières minérales et énergétiques (CREGU)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), NASA, Department of Geological Sciences [Austin], Jackson School of Geosciences (JSG), University of Texas at Austin [Austin]-University of Texas at Austin [Austin], Department of Geology [Tucson], University of Arizona, Department of Geological Sciences [Bloomington], Indiana University [Bloomington], Indiana University System-Indiana University System, Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), NWO-NSO: The role of perchlorates in the preservation of organic compounds on Mars, and Petrology

Subjects
Basalt, Meridiani Planum, Multidisciplinary, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Curiosity rover, Geochemistry, Mars, [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences, Mars Exploration Program, Exploration of Mars, 01 natural sciences, Astrobiology, Impact crater, 13. Climate action, MSL Mars Gale Crater Rocknest, Rocknest, 0103 physical sciences, Sample Analysis at Mars, Aeolian processes, MSL, Rocknest aeolian deposit, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

The Rocknest aeolian deposit is similar to aeolian features analyzed by the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) Spirit and Opportunity. The fraction of sand

Published
2013

35. The Petrochemistry of Jake_M: A Martian Mugearite

Author

Stolper, E. M., Baker, M. B., Newcombe, M. E., Schmidt, M. E., Treiman, A. H., Cousin, A., Dyar, M. D., Fisk, M. R., Gellert, R., King, P. L., Leshin, L., Maurice, S., McLennan, S. M., Minitti, M. E., Perrett, G., Rowland, S., Sautter, V., Wiens, R. C., Kemppinen, O., Bridges, N., Johnson, J. R., Cremers, D., Bell, J. F., Edgar, L., Farmer, J., Godber, A., Wadhwa, M., Wellington, D., McEwan, I., Newman, C., Richardson, M., Charpentier, A., Peret, L., Blank, J., Weigle, G., Li, S., Milliken, R., Robertson, K., Sun, V., Edwards, C., Ehlmann, B., Farley, K., Griffes, J., Grotzinger, J., Miller, H., Pilorget, C., Rice, M., Siebach, K., Stack, K., Brunet, C., Hipkin, V., Leveille, R., Marchand, G., Sanchez, P. S., Favot, L., Cody, G., Steele, A., Fluckiger, L., Lees, D., Nefian, A., Martin, M., Gailhanou, M., Westall, F., Israel, G., Agard, C., Baroukh, J., Donny, C., Gaboriaud, A., Guillemot, P., Lafaille, V., Lorigny, E., Paillet, A., Perez, R., Saccoccio, M., Yana, C., Armiens-Aparicio, C., Rodriguez, J. C., Blazquez, I. C., Gomez, F. G., Gomez-Elvira, J., Hettrich, S., Malvitte, A. L., Jimenez, M. M., Martinez-Frias, J., Martin-Soler, J., Martin-Torres, F. J., Jurado, A. M., Mora-Sotomayor, L., Caro, G. M., Lopez, S. N., Peinado-Gonzalez, V., Pla-Garcia, J., Manfredi, J. A. R., Romeral-Planello, J. J., Fuentes, S. A. S., Martinez, E. S., Redondo, J. T., Urqui-O'Callaghan, R., Mier, M.-P. Z., Chipera, S., Lacour, J.-L., Mauchien, P., Sirven, J.-B., Manning, H., Fairen, A., Hayes, A., Joseph, J., Squyres, S., Sullivan, R., Thomas, P., Dupont, A., Lundberg, A., Melikechi, N., Mezzacappa, A., DeMarines, J., Grinspoon, D., Reitz, G., Prats, B., Atlaskin, E., Genzer, M., Harri, A.-M., Haukka, H., Kahanpaa, H., Kauhanen, J., Paton, M., Polkko, J., Schmidt, W., Siili, T., Fabre, C., Wray, J., Wilhelm, M. B., Poitrasson, F., Patel, K., Gorevan, S., Indyk, S., Paulsen, G., Gupta, S., Bish, D., Schieber, J., Gondet, B., Langevin, Y., Geffroy, C., Baratoux, D., Berger, G., Cros, A., d'Uston, C., Forni, O., Gasnault, O., Lasue, J., Lee, Q.-M., Meslin, P.-Y., Pallier, E., Parot, Y., Pinet, P., Schroder, S., Toplis, M., Lewin, E., Brunner, W., Heydari, E., Achilles, C., Oehler, D., Sutter, B., Cabane, M., Coscia, D., Szopa, C., Teinturier, S., Dromart, G., Robert, F., Le Mouelic, S., Mangold, N., Nachon, M., Buch, A., Stalport, F., Coll, P., Francois, P., Raulin, F., Cameron, J., Clegg, S., DeLapp, D., Dingler, R., Jackson, R. S., Johnstone, S., Lanza, N., Little, C., Nelson, T., Williams, R. B., Kirkland, L., Baker, B., Cantor, B., Caplinger, M., Davis, S., Duston, B., Edgett, K., Fay, D., Hardgrove, C., Harker, D., Herrera, P., Jensen, E., Kennedy, M. R., Krezoski, G., Krysak, D., Lipkaman, L., Malin, M., McCartney, E., McNair, S., Nixon, B., Posiolova, L., Ravine, M., Salamon, A., Saper, L., Stoiber, K., Supulver, K., Van Beek, J., Van Beek, T., Zimdar, R., French, K. L., Iagnemma, K., Miller, K., Summons, R., Goesmann, F., Goetz, W., Hviid, S., Johnson, M., Lefavor, M., Lyness, E., Breves, E., Fassett, C., Blake, D. F., Bristow, T., DesMarais, D., Edwards, L., Haberle, R., Hoehler, T., Hollingsworth, J., Kahre, M., Keely, L., McKay, C., Bleacher, L., Brinckerhoff, W., Choi, D., Conrad, P., Dworkin, J. P., Eigenbrode, J., Floyd, M., Freissinet, C., Garvin, J., Glavin, D., Harpold, D., Mahaffy, P., Martin, D. K., McAdam, A., Pavlov, A., Raaen, E., Smith, M. D., Stern, J., Tan, F., Trainer, M., Meyer, M., Posner, A., Voytek, M., Anderson, R. C., Aubrey, A., Beegle, L. W., Behar, A., Blaney, D., Brinza, D., Calef, F., Christensen, L., Crisp, J., DeFlores, L., Feldman, J., Feldman, S., Flesch, G., Hurowitz, J., Jun, I., Keymeulen, D., Maki, J., Mischna, M., Morookian, J. M., Parker, T., Pavri, B., Schoppers, M., Sengstacken, A., Simmonds, J. J., Spanovich, N., Juarez, M. d. l. T., Vasavada, A., Webster, C. R., Yen, A., Archer, P. D., Cucinotta, F., Jones, J. H., Ming, D., Morris, R. V., Niles, P., Rampe, E., Nolan, T., Radziemski, L., Barraclough, B., Bender, S., Berman, D., Dobrea, E. N., Tokar, R., Vaniman, D., Williams, R. M. E., Yingst, A., Lewis, K., Cleghorn, T., Huntress, W., Manhes, G., Hudgins, J., Olson, T., Stewart, N., Sarrazin, P., Grant, J., Vicenzi, E., Wilson, S. A., Bullock, M., Ehresmann, B., Hamilton, V., Hassler, D., Peterson, J., Rafkin, S., Zeitlin, C., Fedosov, F., Golovin, D., Karpushkina, N., Kozyrev, A., Litvak, M., Malakhov, A., Mitrofanov, I., Mokrousov, M., Nikiforov, S., Prokhorov, V., Sanin, A., Tretyakov, V., Varenikov, A., Vostrukhin, A., Kuzmin, R., Clark, B., Wolff, M., Botta, O., Drake, D., Bean, K., Lemmon, M., Schwenzer, S. P., Anderson, R. B., Herkenhoff, K., Lee, E. M., Sucharski, R., Hernandez, M. A. d. P., Avalos, J. J. B., Ramos, M., Jones, A., Kim, M.-H., Malespin, C., Plante, I., Muller, J.-P., Navarro-Gonzalez, R., Ewing, R., Boynton, W., Downs, R., Fitzgibbon, M., Harshman, K., Morrison, S., Dietrich, W., Kortmann, O., Palucis, M., Sumner, D. Y., Williams, A., Lugmair, G., Wilson, M. A., Rubin, D., Jakosky, B., Balic-Zunic, T., Frydenvang, J., Jensen, J. K., Kinch, K., Koefoed, A., Madsen, M. B., Stipp, S. L. S., Boyd, N., Campbell, J. L., Pradler, I., VanBommel, S., Jacob, S., Owen, T., Savijarvi, H., Boehm, E., Bottcher, S., Burmeister, S., Guo, J., Kohler, J., Garcia, C. M., Mueller-Mellin, R., Wimmer-Schweingruber, R., Bridges, J. C., McConnochie, T., Benna, M., Franz, H., Bower, H., Brunner, A., Blau, H., Boucher, T., Carmosino, M., Atreya, S., Elliott, H., Halleaux, D., Renno, N., Wong, M., Pepin, R., Elliott, B., Spray, J., Thompson, L., Gordon, S., Newsom, H., Ollila, A., Williams, J., Vasconcelos, P., Bentz, J., Nealson, K., Popa, R., Kah, L. C., Moersch, J., Tate, C., Day, M., Kocurek, G., Hallet, B., Sletten, R., Francis, R., McCullough, E., Cloutis, E., ten Kate, I. L., Arvidson, R., Fraeman, A., Scholes, D., Slavney, S., Stein, T., Ward, J., Berger, J., Moores, J. E., GeoRessources, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre de recherches sur la géologie des matières premières minérales et énergétiques (CREGU)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS), California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Department of Earth Sciences [St. Catharines], Brock University [Canada], Lunar and Planetary Institute [Houston] (LPI), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Mount Holyoke College, Oregon State University (OSU), University of Guelph, Research School of Earth Sciences [Canberra] (RSES), Australian National University (ANU), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), State University of New York (SUNY), Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD] (APL), University of Hawaii, Institut de minéralogie, de physique des matériaux et de cosmochimie (IMPMC), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut de recherche pour le développement [IRD] : UR206-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), MSL Science Team, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), and Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Curiosity rover, Geochemistry, Mars, [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences, 010502 geochemistry & geophysics, 01 natural sciences, Jake_M: a martian mugearite, chemistry.chemical_compound, Nepheline, MSL, Chemical composition, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Martian, Phonolite, Multidisciplinary, Fractional crystallization (geology), petrochemistry, Igneous rock, Planetary science, MSL Mars Petrochemistry, chemistry, 13. Climate action, Petrochemistry, Geology, [SDU.STU.MI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Mineralogy
Abstract

International audience; "Jake_M," the first rock analyzed by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer instrument on the Curiosity rover, differs substantially in chemical composition from other known martian igneous rocks: It is alkaline (>15% normative nepheline) and relatively fractionated. Jake_M is compositionally similar to terrestrial mugearites, a rock type typically found at ocean islands and continental rifts. By analogy with these comparable terrestrial rocks, Jake_M could have been produced by extensive fractional crystallization of a primary alkaline or transitional magma at elevated pressure, with or without elevated water contents. The discovery of Jake_M suggests that alkaline magmas may be more abundant on Mars than on Earth and that Curiosity could encounter even more fractionated alkaline rocks (for example, phonolites and trachytes).

Published
2013

36. Volatile, Isotope, and Organic Analysis of Martian Fines with the Mars Curiosity Rover

Author

Leshin, L. A., Mahaffy, P. R., Webster, C. R., Cabane, M., Coll, P., Conrad, P. G., Archer, P. D., Atreya, S. K., Brunner, A. E., Buch, A., Eigenbrode, J. L., Flesch, G. J., Franz, H. B., Freissinet, C., Glavin, D. P., McAdam, A. C., Miller, K. E., Ming, D. W., Morris, R. V., Navarro-Gonzalez, R., Niles, P. B., Owen, T., Pepin, R. O., Squyres, S., Steele, A., Stern, J. C., Summons, R. E., Sumner, D. Y., Sutter, B., Szopa, C., Teinturier, S., Trainer, M. G., Wray, J. J., Grotzinger, J. P., Kemppinen, O., Bridges, N., Johnson, J. R., Minitti, M., Cremers, D., Bell, J. F., Edgar, L., Farmer, J., Godber, A., Wadhwa, M., Wellington, D., McEwan, I., Newman, C., Richardson, M., Charpentier, A., Peret, L., King, P., Blank, J., Weigle, G., Schmidt, M., Li, S., Milliken, R., Robertson, K., Sun, V., Baker, M., Edwards, C., Ehlmann, B., Farley, K., Griffes, J., Miller, H., Newcombe, M., Pilorget, C., Rice, M., Siebach, K., Stack, K., Stolper, E., Brunet, C., Hipkin, V., Leveille, R., Marchand, G., Sanchez, P. S., Favot, L., Cody, G., Fluckiger, L., Lees, D., Nefian, A., Martin, M., Gailhanou, M., Westall, F., Israel, G., Agard, C., Baroukh, J., Donny, C., Gaboriaud, A., Guillemot, P., Lafaille, V., Lorigny, E., Paillet, A., Perez, R., Saccoccio, M., Yana, C., Armiens-Aparicio, C., Rodriguez, J. C., Blazquez, I. C., Gomez, F. G., Gomez-Elvira, J., Hettrich, S., Malvitte, A. L., Jimenez, M. M., Martinez-Frias, J., Martin-Soler, J., Martin-Torres, F. J., Jurado, A. M., Mora-Sotomayor, L., Caro, G. M., Lopez, S. N., Peinado-Gonzalez, V., Pla-Garcia, J., Manfredi, J. A. R., Romeral-Planello, J. J., Fuentes, S. A. S., Martinez, E. S., Redondo, J. T., Urqui-O'Callaghan, R., Mier, M.-P. Z., Chipera, S., Lacour, J.-L., Mauchien, P., Sirven, J.-B., Manning, H., Fairen, A., Hayes, A., Joseph, J., Sullivan, R., Thomas, P., Dupont, A., Lundberg, A., Melikechi, N., Mezzacappa, A., DeMarines, J., Grinspoon, D., Reitz, G., Prats, B., Atlaskin, E., Genzer, M., Harri, A.-M., Haukka, H., Kahanpaa, H., Kauhanen, J., Paton, M., Polkko, J., Schmidt, W., Siili, T., Fabre, C., Wilhelm, M. B., Poitrasson, F., Patel, K., Gorevan, S., Indyk, S., Paulsen, G., Gupta, S., Bish, D., Schieber, J., Gondet, B., Langevin, Y., Geffroy, C., Baratoux, D., Berger, G., Cros, A., d'Uston, C., Forni, O., Gasnault, O., Lasue, J., Lee, Q.-M., Maurice, S., Meslin, P.-Y., Pallier, E., Parot, Y., Pinet, P., Schroder, S., Toplis, M., Lewin, E., Brunner, W., Heydari, E., Achilles, C., Oehler, D., Coscia, D., Dromart, G., Robert, F., Sautter, V., Le Mouelic, S., Mangold, N., Nachon, M., Stalport, F., Francois, P., Raulin, F., Cameron, J., Clegg, S., Cousin, A., DeLapp, D., Dingler, R., Jackson, R. S., Johnstone, S., Lanza, N., Little, C., Nelson, T., Wiens, R. C., Williams, R. B., Jones, A., Kirkland, L., Treiman, A., Baker, B., Cantor, B., Caplinger, M., Davis, S., Duston, B., Edgett, K., Fay, D., Hardgrove, C., Harker, D., Herrera, P., Jensen, E., Kennedy, M. R., Krezoski, G., Krysak, D., Lipkaman, L., Malin, M., McCartney, E., McNair, S., Nixon, B., Posiolova, L., Ravine, M., Salamon, A., Saper, L., Stoiber, K., Supulver, K., Van Beek, J., Van Beek, T., Zimdar, R., French, K. L., Iagnemma, K., Goesmann, F., Goetz, W., Hviid, S., Johnson, M., Lefavor, M., Lyness, E., Breves, E., Dyar, M. D., Fassett, C., Blake, D. F., Bristow, T., DesMarais, D., Edwards, L., Haberle, R., Hoehler, T., Hollingsworth, J., Kahre, M., Keely, L., McKay, C., Bleacher, L., Brinckerhoff, W., Choi, D., Dworkin, J. P., Floyd, M., Garvin, J., Harpold, D., Martin, D. K., Pavlov, A., Raaen, E., Smith, M. D., Tan, F., Meyer, M., Posner, A., Voytek, M., Anderson, R. C., Aubrey, A., Beegle, L. W., Behar, A., Blaney, D., Brinza, D., Calef, F., Christensen, L., Crisp, J. A., DeFlores, L., Feldman, J., Feldman, S., Hurowitz, J., Jun, I., Keymeulen, D., Maki, J., Mischna, M., Morookian, J. M., Parker, T., Pavri, B., Schoppers, M., Sengstacken, A., Simmonds, J. J., Spanovich, N., Juarez, M. d. l. T., Vasavada, A. R., Yen, A., Cucinotta, F., Jones, J. H., Rampe, E., Nolan, T., Fisk, M., Radziemski, L., Barraclough, B., Bender, S., Berman, D., Dobrea, E. N., Tokar, R., Vaniman, D., Williams, R. M. E., Yingst, A., Lewis, K., Cleghorn, T., Huntress, W., Manhes, G., Hudgins, J., Olson, T., Stewart, N., Sarrazin, P., Grant, J., Vicenzi, E., Wilson, S. A., Bullock, M., Ehresmann, B., Hamilton, V., Hassler, D., Peterson, J., Rafkin, S., Zeitlin, C., Fedosov, F., Golovin, D., Karpushkina, N., Kozyrev, A., Litvak, M., Malakhov, A., Mitrofanov, I., Mokrousov, M., Nikiforov, S., Prokhorov, V., Sanin, A., Tretyakov, V., Varenikov, A., Vostrukhin, A., Kuzmin, R., Clark, B., Wolff, M., McLennan, S., Botta, O., Drake, D., Bean, K., Lemmon, M., Schwenzer, S. P., Anderson, R. B., Herkenhoff, K., Lee, E. M., Sucharski, R., Hernandez, M. A. d. P., Avalos, J. J. B., Ramos, M., Kim, M.-H., Malespin, C., Plante, I., Muller, J.-P., Ewing, R., Boynton, W., Downs, R., Fitzgibbon, M., Harshman, K., Morrison, S., Dietrich, W., Kortmann, O., Palucis, M., Williams, A., Lugmair, G., Wilson, M. A., Rubin, D., Jakosky, B., Balic-Zunic, T., Frydenvang, J., Jensen, J. K., Kinch, K., Koefoed, A., Madsen, M. B., Stipp, S. L. S., Boyd, N., Campbell, J. L., Gellert, R., Perrett, G., Pradler, I., VanBommel, S., Jacob, S., Rowland, S., Savijarvi, H., Boehm, E., Bottcher, S., Burmeister, S., Guo, J., Kohler, J., Garcia, C. M., Mueller-Mellin, R., Wimmer-Schweingruber, R., Bridges, J. C., McConnochie, T., Benna, M., Bower, H., Blau, H., Boucher, T., Carmosino, M., Elliott, H., Halleaux, D., Renno, N., Wong, M., Elliott, B., Spray, J., Thompson, L., Gordon, S., Newsom, H., Ollila, A., Williams, J., Vasconcelos, P., Bentz, J., Nealson, K., Popa, R., Kah, L. C., Moersch, J., Tate, C., Day, M., Kocurek, G., Hallet, B., Sletten, R., Francis, R., McCullough, E., Cloutis, E., ten Kate, I. L., Arvidson, R., Fraeman, A., Scholes, D., Slavney, S., Stein, T., Ward, J., Berger, J., Moores, J. E., Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences [Troy, NY], Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA-California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), PLANETO - LATMOS, Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA (UMR_7583)), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES), NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), NASA-NASA, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences [Ann Arbor] (AOSS), University of Michigan [Ann Arbor], University of Michigan System-University of Michigan System, Department of Astronomy [College Park], University of Maryland [College Park], University of Maryland System-University of Maryland System, Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux - EA 4038 (LGPM), CentraleSupélec, Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology [GSFC] (CRESST), Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences [MIT, Cambridge] (EAPS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Laboratorio de Química de Plasmas y Estudios Planetarios [Mexico], Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares [Mexico], Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México = National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México = National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Institute for Astronomy [Honolulu], University of Hawai‘i [Mānoa] (UHM), School of Physics and Astronomy [Minneapolis], University of Minnesota [Twin Cities] (UMN), University of Minnesota System-University of Minnesota System, Cornell University [New York], Geophysical Laboratory [Carnegie Institution], Carnegie Institution for Science, University of California [Davis] (UC Davis), University of California (UC), Jacobs Technology ESCG, Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace (IPSL), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences [Atlanta], Georgia Institute of Technology [Atlanta], Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences [Pasadena], California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), NWO-NSO: The role of perchlorates in the preservation of organic compounds on Mars, Petrology, California Institute of Technology (CALTECH)-NASA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Carnegie Institution for Science [Washington], University of California, École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), IMPEC - LATMOS, Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Minnesota [Twin Cities], Cornell University, and École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École polytechnique (X)

Subjects
Martian, Multidisciplinary, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, [PHYS.ASTR.EP]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Thermal decomposition, Curiosity rover, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], chemistry.chemical_element, Mars, organic analysis, Mars Exploration Program, 01 natural sciences, Astrobiology, chemistry.chemical_compound, chemistry, 13. Climate action, Isotopes of carbon, Rocknest, 0103 physical sciences, Sample Analysis at Mars, Carbonate, MSL Mars Volatiles Isotopes Organics Soil Gale Crater, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Carbon, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Samples from the Rocknest aeolian deposit were heated to ~835°C under helium flow and evolved gases analyzed by Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite. H 2 O, SO 2 , CO 2 , and O 2 were the major gases released. Water abundance (1.5 to 3 weight percent) and release temperature suggest that H 2 O is bound within an amorphous component of the sample. Decomposition of fine-grained Fe or Mg carbonate is the likely source of much of the evolved CO 2 . Evolved O 2 is coincident with the release of Cl, suggesting that oxygen is produced from thermal decomposition of an oxychloride compound. Elevated δD values are consistent with recent atmospheric exchange. Carbon isotopes indicate multiple carbon sources in the fines. Several simple organic compounds were detected, but they are not definitively martian in origin.

Published
2013

37. X-ray diffraction results from mars science laboratory: Mineralogy of rocknest at Gale crater

Author

Bish, D. L., Blake, D. F., Vaniman, D. T., Chipera, S. J., Morris, R. V., Ming, D. W., Treiman, A. H., Sarrazin, P., Morrison, S. M., Downs, R. T., Achilles, C. N., Yen, A. S., Bristow, T. F., Crisp, J. A., Morookian, J. M., Farmer, J. D., Rampe, E. B., Stolper, E. M., Spanovich, N., Achilles, C., Agard, C., Verdasca, J. A. A., Anderson, R., Archer, D., Armiens-Aparicio, C., Arvidson, R., Atlaskin, E., Atreya, S., Aubrey, A., Baker, B., Baker, M., Balic-Zunic, T., Baratoux, D., Baroukh, J., Barraclough, B., Bean, K., Beegle, L., Behar, A., Bell, J., Bender, S., Benna, M., Bentz, J., Berger, G., Berger, J., Berman, D., Bish, D., Avalos, J. J. B., Blaney, D., Blank, J., Blau, H., Bleacher, L., Boehm, E., Botta, O., Bottcher, S., Boucher, T., Bower, H., Boyd, N., Boynton, B., Breves, E., Bridges, J., Bridges, N., Brinckerhoff, W., Brinza, D., Bristow, T., Brunet, C., Brunner, A., Brunner, W., Buch, A., Bullock, M., Burmeister, S., Cabane, M., Calef, F., Cameron, J., Campbell, J. I., Cantor, B., Caplinger, M., Rodriguez, J. C., Carmosino, M., Blazquez, I. C., Charpentier, A., Chipera, S., Choi, D., Clark, B., Clegg, S., Cleghorn, T., Cloutis, E., Cody, G., Coll, P., Conrad, P., Coscia, D., Cousin, A., Cremers, D., Crisp, J., Cros, A., Cucinotta, F., d'Uston, C., Davis, S., Day, M. K., Juarez, M. d. l. T., DeFlores, L., DeLapp, D., DeMarines, J., DesMarais, D., Dietrich, W., Dingler, R., Donny, C., Downs, B., Drake, D., Dromart, G., Dupont, A., Duston, B., Dworkin, J., Dyar, M. D., Edgar, L., Edgett, K., Edwards, C., Edwards, L., Ehlmann, B., Ehresmann, B., Eigenbrode, J., Elliott, B., Elliott, H., Ewing, R., Fabre, C., Fairen, A., Farley, K., Farmer, J., Fassett, C., Favot, L., Fay, D., Fedosov, F., Feldman, J., Feldman, S., Fisk, M., Fitzgibbon, M., Flesch, G., Floyd, M., Fluckiger, L., Forni, O., Fraeman, A., Francis, R., Francois, P., Franz, H., Freissinet, C., French, K. L., Frydenvang, J., Gaboriaud, A., Gailhanou, M., Garvin, J., Gasnault, O., Geffroy, C., Gellert, R., Genzer, M., Glavin, D., Godber, A., Goesmann, F., Goetz, W., Golovin, D., Gomez, F. G., Gomez-Elvira, J., Gondet, B., Gordon, S., Gorevan, S., Grant, J., Griffes, J., Grinspoon, D., Grotzinger, J., Guillemot, P., Guo, J., Gupta, S., Guzewich, S., Haberle, R., Halleaux, D., Hallet, B., Hamilton, V., Hardgrove, C., Harker, D., Harpold, D., Harri, A.-M., Harshman, K., Hassler, D., Haukka, H., Hayes, A., Herkenhoff, K., Herrera, P., Hettrich, S., Heydari, E., Hipkin, V., Hoehler, T., Hollingsworth, J., Hudgins, J., Huntress, W., Hurowitz, J., Hviid, S., Iagnemma, K., Indyk, S., Israel, G., Jackson, R., Jacob, S., Jakosky, B., Jensen, E., Jensen, J. K., Johnson, J., Johnson, M., Johnstone, S., Jones, A., Jones, J., Joseph, J., Jun, I., Kah, L., Kahanpaa, H., Kahre, M., Karpushkina, N., Kasprzak, W., Kauhanen, J., Keely, L., Kemppinen, O., Keymeulen, D., Kim, M.-H., Kinch, K., King, P., Kirkland, L., Kocurek, G., Koefoed, A., Kohler, J., Kortmann, O., Kozyrev, A., Krezoski, J., Krysak, D., Kuzmin, R., Lacour, J. L., Lafaille, V., Langevin, Y., Lanza, N., Lasue, J., Le Mouelic, S., Lee, E. M., Lee, Q.-M., Lees, D., Lefavor, M., Lemmon, M., Malvitte, A. L., Leshin, L., Leveille, R., Lewin-Carpintier, E., Lewis, K., Li, S., Lipkaman, L., Little, C., Litvak, M., Lorigny, E., Lugmair, G., Lundberg, A., Lyness, E., Madsen, M., Mahaffy, P., Maki, J., Malakhov, A., Malespin, C., Malin, M., Mangold, N., Manhes, G., Manning, H., Marchand, G., Jimenez, M. M., Garcia, C. M., Martin, D., Martin, M., Martinez-Frias, J., Martin-Soler, J., Martin-Torres, F. J., Mauchien, P., Maurice, S., McAdam, A., McCartney, E., McConnochie, T., McCullough, E., McEwan, I., McKay, C., McLennan, S., McNair, S., Melikechi, N., Meslin, P.-Y., Meyer, M., Mezzacappa, A., Miller, H., Miller, K., Milliken, R., Ming, D., Minitti, M., Mischna, M., Mitrofanov, I., Moersch, J., Mokrousov, M., Jurado, A. M., Moores, J., Mora-Sotomayor, L., Morris, R., Morrison, S., Mueller-Mellin, R., Muller, J.-P., Caro, G. M., Nachon, M., Lopez, S. N., Navarro-Gonzalez, R., Nealson, K., Nefian, A., Nelson, T., Newcombe, M., Newman, C., Newsom, H., Nikiforov, S., Niles, P., Nixon, B., Dobrea, E. N., Nolan, T., Oehler, D., Ollila, A., Olson, T., Owen, T., Hernandez, M. A. d. 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Z., GeoRessources, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre de recherches sur la géologie des matières premières minérales et énergétiques (CREGU)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), NWO-NSO: The role of perchlorates in the preservation of organic compounds on Mars, and Petrology

Subjects
Multidisciplinary, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Water on Mars, Curiosity rover, [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences, Mineralogy, Mars, Mars Exploration Program, Martian soil, engineering.material, 01 natural sciences, MSL Mars X-ray Diffraction Mineralogy Rocknest Gale Crater, Meteorite, Impact crater, 13. Climate action, Rocknest, 0103 physical sciences, Pigeonite, engineering, Composition of Mars, MSL, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, mineralogy of Rocknest at Gale crater
Abstract

The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity scooped samples of soil from the Rocknest aeolian bedform in Gale crater. Analysis of the soil with the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) x-ray diffraction (XRD) instrument revealed plagioclase (~An57), forsteritic olivine (~Fo62), augite, and pigeonite, with minor K-feldspar, magnetite, quartz, anhydrite, hematite, and ilmenite. The minor phases are present at, or near, detection limits. The soil also contains 27 ± 14 weight percent x-ray amorphous material, likely containing multiple Fe 3+ - and volatile-bearing phases, including possibly a substance resembling hisingerite. The crystalline component is similar to the normative mineralogy of certain basaltic rocks from Gusev crater on Mars and of martian basaltic meteorites. The amorphous component is similar to that found on Earth in places such as soils on the Mauna Kea volcano, Hawaii.

Published
2013

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