Evidence for montmorillonite or its compositional equivalent in Columbia Hills, Mars

B. C. Clark III; R. E. Arvidson; Ralf Gellert; R.V. Morris; D. W. Ming; L. Richter; S. W. Ruff; J.R. Michalski; W. H. Farrand; A. S. Yen; Kenneth E. Herkenhoff; R. Li; S. W. Squyres; C. Schroder; G. Klingelhofer; J.F. Bell III

doi:10.1029/2006JE002756

Evidence for montmorillonite or its compositional equivalent in Columbia Hills, Mars

Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets

By: B. C. Clark III, R. E. Arvidson, Ralf Gellert, R.V. Morris, D. W. Ming, L. Richter, S. W. Ruff, J.R. Michalski, W. H. Farrand, A. S. Yen, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, R. Li, S. W. Squyres, C. Schroder, G. Klingelhofer, and J.F. Bell III

https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JE002756

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Abstract

During its exploration of the Columbia Hills, the Mars Exploration Rover "Spirit" encountered several similar samples that are distinctly different from Martian meteorites and known Gusev crater soils, rocks, and sediments. Occurring in a variety of contexts and locations, these "Independence class" samples are rough-textured, iron-poor (equivalent FeO ??? 4 wt%), have high Al/Si ratios, and often contain unexpectedly high concentrations of one or more minor or trace elements (including Cr, Ni, Cu, Sr, and Y). Apart from accessory minerals, the major component common to these samples has a compositional profile of major and minor elements which is similar to the smectite montmorillonite, implicating this mineral, or its compositional equivalent. Infrared thermal emission spectra do not indicate the presence of crystalline smectite. One of these samples was found spatially associated with a ferric sulfate-enriched soil horizon, possibly indicating a genetic relationship between these disparate types of materials. Compared to the nearby Wishstone and Watchtower class rocks, major aqueous alteration involving mineral dissolution and mobilization with consequent depletions of certain elements is implied for this setting and may be undetectable by remote sensing from orbit because of the small scale of the occurrences and obscuration by mantling with soil and dust.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Evidence for montmorillonite or its compositional equivalent in Columbia Hills, Mars
Series title	Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
DOI	10.1029/2006JE002756
Volume	112
Issue	E6
Year Published	2007
Language	English
Publisher	American Geophysical Union
Publisher location	Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	19 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
Other Geospatial	Columbia Hills; Mars
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page