Concentric layers of weathered materials around core-stones show the porphyritic biotite granite to experience sequential, but gradational, changes in visible features, textures and mineralogy as it transforms from ‘rock’ into ‘soil’. The start with opening-up grain boundaries micro-cracks (stage 1) followed by their dark brown staining 2) subsequent alteration (to sericite clay minerals) groun...

[1] Textural and compositional analyses using Chemistry Camera (ChemCam) remote microimager and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) have been performed on five float rocks and coarse gravels along the first 100 m of the Curiosity traverse at Bradbury Rise. ChemCam, the first LIBS instrument sent to another planet, offers the opportunity to assess mineralogic diversity at grain-size scal...

The basement rocks encountered in exploratory boreholes drilled for exploration and evaluation of coal deposits in Thar Parkar district, Sindh Pakistan have formed the basis for present studies. The basement complex was penetrated through eighteen boreholes at drill depth range from 112 to 279 meters. These rocks were identified in field as Pink and Grey Granites.. The basement rocks are of Ign...

The Sargaz granitic intrusion has been emplaced in Sargaz ophiolitic suite, south-east of Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone, south of Kerman province. The central part of the intrusive body contains pinkish coarse-grained granite, but the fractured northern part, neighboring Chah-Mazraeh fault, has been subjected to pervasive Na-metasomatism and related subsolidus reactions. In the northern alte...

Newly obtained near-infrared reflectance spectra for features on or near the Aristarchus Plateau demonstrate he diversity of compositions in the region. t!ighland units are of three probable compositions: a feldspar and elinopyroxene assemblage; a probable clinopyroxene, olivine, and possibly feldspar assemblage; and an assemblage composed of olivine or olivine and feldspar. The feldspar-elinop...