Textures of the soils and rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit's Microscopic Imager.
The Microscopic Imager on the Spirit rover analyzed the textures of the soil and rocks at Gusev crater on Mars at a resolution of 100 micrometers. Weakly bound agglomerates of dust are present in the soil near the Columbia Memorial Station. Some of the brushed or abraded rock surfaces show igneous textures and evidence for alteration rinds, coatings, and veins consistent with secondary mineralization. The rock textures are consistent with a volcanic origin and subsequent alteration and/or weathering by impact events, wind, and possibly water.
U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Team, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA. kherkenhoff@usgs.gov
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Herkenhoff
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Wang
D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D018535:Mars; D018707:Volcanic Eruptions; D014867:Water; D014919:Wind
D014867:Water