Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars

H.Y. McSween; M.B. Wyatt; Ralf Gellert; J.F. Bell; R.V. Morris; Kenneth E. Herkenhoff; L.S. Crumpler; K.A. Milam; K.R. Stockstill; L.L. Tornabene; R. E. Arvidson; P. Bartlett; D. Blaney; N.A. Cabrol; P. R. Christensen; B. C. Clark; J.A. Crisp; D.J. Des Marais; T. Economou; J.D. Farmer; W. Farrand; A. Ghosh; M. Golombek; S. Gorevan; R. Greeley; V.E. Hamilton; J. R. Johnson; B.L. Joliff; G. Klingelhofer; A.T. Knudson; S. McLennan; D. Ming; J.E. Moersch; R. Rieder; S. W. Ruff; C. Schröder; P.A. de Souza; S. W. Squyres; H. Wanke; A. Wang; A. Yen; J. Zipfel

doi:10.1029/2005JE002477

Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars

Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets

By: H.Y. McSween, M.B. Wyatt, Ralf Gellert, J.F. Bell, R.V. Morris, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, L.S. Crumpler, K.A. Milam, K.R. Stockstill, L.L. Tornabene, R. E. Arvidson, P. Bartlett, D. Blaney, N.A. Cabrol, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J.A. Crisp, D.J. Des Marais, T. Economou, J.D. Farmer, W. Farrand, A. Ghosh, M. Golombek, S. Gorevan, R. Greeley, V.E. Hamilton, J. R. Johnson, B.L. Joliff, G. Klingelhofer, A.T. Knudson, S. McLennan, D. Ming, J.E. Moersch, R. Rieder, S. W. Ruff, C. Schröder, P.A. de Souza, S. W. Squyres, H. Wanke, A. Wang, A. Yen, and J. Zipfel

https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JE002477

Links

More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

Rocks on the floor of Gusev crater are basalts of uniform composition and mineralogy. Olivine, the only mineral to have been identified or inferred from data by all instruments on the Spirit rover, is especially abundant in these rocks. These picritic basalts are similar in many respects to certain Martian meteorites (olivine-phyric shergottites). The olivine megacrysts in both have intermediate compositions, with modal abundances ranging up to 20-30%. Associated minerals in both include low-calcium and high-calcium pyroxenes, plagioclase of intermediate composition, iron-titanium-chromium oxides, and phosphate. These rocks also share minor element trends, reflected in their nickel-magnesium and chromium-magnesium ratios. Gusev basalts and shergottites appear to have formed from primitive magmas produced by melting an undepleted mantle at depth and erupted without significant fractionation. However, apparent differences between Gusev rocks and shergottites in their ages, plagioclase abundances, and volatile contents preclude direct correlation. Orbital determinations of global olivine distribution and compositions by thermal emission spectroscopy suggest that olivine-rich rocks may be widespread. Because weathering under acidic conditions preferentially attacks olivine and disguises such rocks beneath alteration rinds, picritic basalts formed from primitive magmas may even be a common component of the Martian crust formed during ancient and recent times.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars
Series title	Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
DOI	10.1029/2005JE002477
Volume	111
Issue	E2
Year Published	2006
Language	English
Publisher	American Geophysical Union
Publisher location	Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	17 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
Other Geospatial	Gusev crater, Mars
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page