| Abstract: | The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has spent more than 2 years exploring Meridiani Planum, traveling ???8 kilometers and detecting features that reveal ancient environmental conditions. These include well-developed festoon (trough) cross-lamination formed in flowing liquid water, strata with smaller and more abundant hematite-rich concretions than those seen previously, possible relict "hopper crystals" that might reflect the formation of halite, thick weathering rinds on rock surfaces, resistant fracture fills, and networks of polygonal fractures likely caused by dehydration of sulfate salts. Chemical variations with depth show that the siliciclastic fraction of outcrop rock has undergone substantial chemical alteration from a precursor basaltic composition. Observations from microscopic to orbital scales indicate that ancient Meridiani once had abundant acidic groundwater, arid and oxidizing surface conditions, and occasional liquid flow on the surface. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70028112 |
| Citation Author: | Squyres, S. W.; Knoll, A. H.; Arvidson, R. E.; Clark, B. C.; Grotzinger, J. P.; Jolliff, B. L.; McLennan, S. M.; Tosca, N.; Bell, III, J. F.; Calvin, W. M.; Farrand, W. H.; Glotch, T. D.; Golombek, M. P.; Herkenhoff, K. E.; Johnson, J. R.; Klingelhofer, G.; McSween, H. Y.; Yen, A. S. |
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| Citation End Page: | 1407 |
| Citation Issue: | 5792 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Science |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 5 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Two years at Meridiani Planum: Results from the opportunity rover; 2006; Article; Journal; Science; Squyres, S. W.; Knoll, A. H.; Arvidson, R. E.; Clark, B. C.; Grotzinger, J. P.; Jolliff, B. L.; McLennan, S. M.; Tosca, N.; Bell, III, J. F.; Calvin, W. M.; Farrand, W. H.; Glotch, T. D.; Golombek, M. P.; Herkenhoff, K. E.; Johnson, J. R.; Klingelhofer, G.; McSween, H. Y.; Yen, A. S. |
| Citation Start Page: | 1403 |
| Citation Volume: | 313 |
| Citation Year: | 2006 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Two years at Meridiani Planum: Results from the opportunity rover; 2006; Article; Journal; Science; Squyres, S. W.; Knoll, A. H.; Arvidson, R. E.; Clark, B. C.; Grotzinger, J. P.; Jolliff, B. L.; McLennan, S. M.; Tosca, N.; Bell, III, J. F.; Calvin, W. M.; Farrand, W. H.; Glotch, T. D.; Golombek, M. P.; Herkenhoff, K. E.; Johnson, J. R.; Klingelhofer, G.; McSween, H. Y.; Yen, A. S. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1130890 |
| Date Other: | Sun, 1 Jan 2006 00:00 -0600 |
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