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Ancient aqueous environments at Endeavour Crater, Mars
Citation
Arvidson, RE and Squyres, SW and Bell III, JF and Catalano, JG and Clark, BC and Crumpler, LS and de Souza Jr, PA and Fairen, AG and Farrand, WH and Fox, VK and Gellert, R and Ghosh, A and Golombek, MP and Grotzinger, JP and Guinness, EA and Herkenhoff, KE and Jolliff, BL and Knoll, AH and Li, R and McLennan, SM and Ming, DW and Mittlefehldt, DW and Moore, JM and Morris, RV and Murchie, SL and Parker, TJ and Paulsen, G and Rice, JW and Ruff, SW and Smith, MD and Wolff, MJ, Ancient aqueous environments at Endeavour Crater, Mars, Science, 343, (6169) Article 1248097. ISSN 0036-8075 (2014) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 Amer Assoc Advancement Science
DOI: doi:10.1126/science.1248097
Abstract
Opportunity has investigated in detail rocks on the rim of the Noachian age Endeavour crater, where orbital spectral reflectance signatures indicate the presence of Fe+3-rich smectites. The signatures are associated with fine-grained, layered rocks containing spherules of diagenetic or impact origin. The layered rocks are overlain by breccias, and both units are cut by calcium sulfate veins precipitated from fluids that circulated after the Endeavour impact. Compositional data for fractures in the layered rocks suggest formation of Al-rich smectites by aqueous leaching. Evidence is thus preserved for water-rock interactions before and after the impact, with aqueous environments of slightly acidic to circum-neutral pH that would have been more favorable for prebiotic chemistry and microorganisms than those recorded by younger sulfate-rich rocks at Meridiani Planum.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | silicate, silicon dioxide, sulfate, water |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Geology |
| Research Field: | Extraterrestrial Geology |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences |
| Author: | de Souza Jr, PA (Professor Paulo de Souza Junior) |
| ID Code: | 118059 |
| Year Published: | 2014 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 85 |
| Deposited By: | Information and Communication Technology |
| Deposited On: | 2017-07-03 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-10-17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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