Discovery of olivine in the Nili Fssae region of Mars.
We have detected a 30,000-square-kilometer area rich in olivine in the Nili Fossae region of Mars. Nili Fossae has been interpreted as a complex of grabens and fractures related to the formation of the Isidis impact basin. We propose that post-impact faulting of this area has exposed subsurface layers rich in olivine. Linear mixture analysis of Thermal Emission Spectrometer spectra shows surface exposures of 30% olivine, where the composition of the olivine ranges from Fo30 to Fo70.
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO 80225, USA. thoefen@usgs.gov
Todd M
TM
Hoefen
Roger N
RN
Clark
Joshua L
JL
Bandfield
Michael D
MD
Smith
John C
JC
Pearl
Philip R
PR
Christensen