Characterization of Martian Soil Fines Fraction in Snc Meteorites

The Effect of Flourine on the Liquidus of an Adirondack-class Martian

Introduction: This study presents first experimental results on the effect of fluorine on near-liquidus phase equilibria of an Adirondack-class Martian basalt. The basis of this study is our previous work on anhydrous [1] and chlorine bearing [2] systems which has already shown that: 1) the Adirondack-class basalts are evolved liquid compositions [1] and 2) that chlorine has a large effect on l...

Lunar Mare Basalts as Analogues for Martian Volcanic Compositions: Evidence from Visible, Near-ir, and Thermal Emission Spectroscopy

Introduction: The lunar mare basalts potentially provide a unique sample suite for understanding the nature of basalts on the martian surface. Our current knowledge of the mineralogical and chemical composition of the basaltic material on Mars comes from studies of the basaltic martian meteorites and from orbital and surface remote sensing observations. Petrographic observations of basaltic mar...

Fractionation among Large-ion Lithophile Elements during the Differentiation of Mars: Implications for the Composition of the Martian

Introduction: The ratios between moderately volatile large ion lithophile (LIL) elements, such as K and Rb, and refractory LIL elements, such as Th, U, and the LREE are very important constraints on models for the origin and chemical composition of the primitive mantles of planets [e.g., Ref. 1]. Ratios among these highly incompatible elements are generally thought to change little during magma...

On the Original-Igneous Source of Martian Fines

The composition of the silicate portion of Martian regolith fines indicates derivation of the fines from mafic to ultramafic igneous rocks, probably rich in pyroxene. Rock types similar in chemical and mineralogical composition include terrestrial Archean basalts and certain achondrite meteorites. If these igneous rocks weathered nearly isochemically, the nontronitic clays proposed earlier as a...

MARTIAN AND SNC METEORITES I 1 : 30 p . m