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Basaltic Rocks Analyzed by the Spirit Rover in Gusev Crater

Authors :: James F. Bell
Keith A. Milam
Larry S. Crumpler
Raymond E. Arvidson
Larry A. Haskin
Jeffrey E. Moersch
Rudolf Rieder
Joy A. Crisp
Scott M. McLennan
David J. Des Marais
Philip R. Christensen
Steven W. Ruff
Jeffrey R. Johnson
John A. Grant
Albert S. Yen
N. A. Cabrol
G. Klingelhoefer
Trevor G. Graff
A. T. Knudson
Benton C. Clark
P. A. de Souza
Richard V. Morris
A. Ghosh
Jutta Zipfel
Ralf Gellert
Heinrich Wänke
S. P. Gorevan
Jack D. Farmer
K. E. Herkenhoff
Diana L. Blaney
Alian Wang
Steven W. Squyres
Bradley L. Jolliff
Harry Y. McSween
Michael B. Wyatt
Source :: Science. 305:842-845
Publication Year :: 2004
Publisher :: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2004.
Abstract: The Spirit landing site in Gusev Crater on Mars contains dark, fine-grained, vesicular rocks interpreted as lavas. Pancam and MiniâThermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) spectra suggest that all of these rocks are similar but have variable coatings and dust mantles. Magnified images of brushed and abraded rock surfaces show alteration rinds and veins. Rock interiors contain â¤25% megacrysts. Chemical analyses of rocks by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer are consistent with picritic basalts, containing normative olivine, pyroxenes, plagioclase, and accessory FeTi oxides. MoÌssbauer, Pancam, and Mini-TES spectra confirm the presence of olivine, magnetite, and probably pyroxene. These basalts extend the known range of rock compositions composing the martian crust.