title: Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover.
abstract: The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) on Opportunity investigated the mineral abundances and compositions of outcrops, rocks, and soils at Meridiani Planum. Coarse crystalline hematite and olivine-rich basaltic sands were observed as predicted from orbital TES spectroscopy. Outcrops of aqueous origin are composed of 15 to 35% by volume magnesium and calcium sulfates [a high-silica component modeled as a combination of glass, feldspar, and sheet silicates (approximately 20 to 30%)], and hematite; only minor jarosite is identified in Mini-TES spectra. Mini-TES spectra show only a hematite signature in the millimeter-sized spherules. Basaltic materials have more plagioclase than pyroxene, contain olivine, and are similar in inferred mineral composition to basalt mapped from orbit. Bounce rock is dominated by clinopyroxene and is close in inferred mineral composition to the basaltic martian meteorites. Bright wind streak material matches global dust. Waterlain rocks covered by unaltered basaltic sands suggest a change from an aqueous environment to one dominated by physical weathering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. phil.christensen@asu.edu
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Glotch
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Arvidson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bandfield
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Blaney
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Budney
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Calvin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fallacaro
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Fergason
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gorelick
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Graff
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Knudson
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: McSween
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Mehall
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Mehall
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Moersch
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Squyres
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wolff
mesh_terms: D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D058085:Iron Compounds; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D018535:Mars; D008903:Minerals; D017640:Silicates; D018531:Spacecraft; D013431:Sulfates; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D058085:Iron Compounds; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D017640:Silicates; D013431:Sulfates; C060346:basalt; C492331:jarosite; D014867:Water; C092478:pyroxene; C000499:ferric oxide; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; C034475:olivine; D002133:Calcium Sulfate