X-ray Diffraction Results from Mars Science Laboratory: Mineralogy of Rocknest at Gale Crater

Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 341 (6153) ◽  
pp. 1238932-1238932 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Bish ◽  
D. F. Blake ◽  
D. T. Vaniman ◽  
S. J. Chipera ◽  
R. V. Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Laboratory ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Gale Crater

scholarly journals A Review of the Phyllosilicates in Gale Crater as Detected by the CheMin Instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity Rover

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 847
Author(s):  
Valerie M. Tu ◽  
Elizabeth B. Rampe ◽  
Thomas F. Bristow ◽  
Michael T. Thorpe ◽  
Joanna V. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Laboratory ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Microbial Life ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Sedimentary Deposits ◽  
Aqueous Environments ◽  
Key Indicators ◽  
Strategic Goal ◽  
Curiosity Rover

Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, landed on Mars in August 2012 to investigate the ~3.5-billion-year-old (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary deposits of Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) and the surrounding plains (Aeolis Palus) in Gale crater. After nearly nine years, Curiosity has traversed over 25 km, and the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) X-ray diffraction instrument on-board Curiosity has analyzed 30 drilled rock and three scooped soil samples to date. The principal strategic goal of the mission is to assess the habitability of Mars in its ancient past. Phyllosilicates are common in ancient Martian terrains dating to ~3.5–4 Ga and were detected from orbit in some of the lower strata of Mount Sharp. Phyllosilicates on Earth are important for harboring and preserving organics. On Mars, phyllosilicates are significant for exploration as they are hypothesized to be a marker for potential habitable environments. CheMin data demonstrate that ancient fluvio-lacustrine rocks in Gale crater contain up to ~35 wt. % phyllosilicates. Phyllosilicates are key indicators of past fluid–rock interactions, and variation in the structure and composition of phyllosilicates in Gale crater suggest changes in past aqueous environments that may have been habitable to microbial life with a variety of possible energy sources.

scholarly journals The Surface Energy Budget at Gale Crater during the first 2500 sols of the Mars Science Laboratory mission

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Martínez ◽  
A. Vicente‐Retortillo ◽  
A. R. Vasavada ◽  
C. E. Newman ◽  
E. Fischer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Energy ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Surface Energy Budget ◽  
Science Laboratory ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Gale Crater

scholarly journals Terrain physical properties derived from orbital data and the first 360 sols of Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover observations in Gale Crater

2014 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1322-1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Arvidson ◽  
P. Bellutta ◽  
F. Calef ◽  
A. A. Fraeman ◽  
J. B. Garvin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Science Laboratory ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Orbital Data ◽  
Curiosity Rover

scholarly journals Mineralogy, provenance, and diagenesis of a potassic basaltic sandstone on Mars: CheMin X‐ray diffraction of the Windjana sample (Kimberley area, Gale Crater)

2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan H. Treiman ◽  
David L. Bish ◽  
David T. Vaniman ◽  
Steve J. Chipera ◽  
David F. Blake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Gale Crater

Abundance retrieval of hydrous minerals around the Mars Science Laboratory landing site in Gale crater, Mars

2016 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 76-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Honglei Lin ◽  
Xia Zhang ◽  
Tong Shuai ◽  
Lifu Zhang ◽  
Yanli Sun
Keyword(s):  
Landing Site ◽  
Science Laboratory ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Hydrous Minerals ◽  
Gale Crater

scholarly journals Gale crater: the Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Landing Site

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Wray
Keyword(s):  
Clay Minerals ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Landing Site ◽  
Science Laboratory ◽  
Deep Lakes ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Diagenetic Processes ◽  
Curiosity Rover

AbstractGale crater formed from an impact on Mars ∼3.6 billion years ago. It hosts a central mound nearly 100 km wide and ∼5 km high, consisting of layered rocks with a variety of textures and spectral properties. The oldest exposed layers contain variably hydrated sulphates and smectite clay minerals, implying an aqueous origin, whereas the younger layers higher on the mound are covered by a mantle of dust. Fluvial channels carved into the crater walls and the lower mound indicate that surface liquids were present during and after deposition of the mound material. Numerous hypotheses have been advocated for the origin of some or all minerals and layers in the mound, ranging from deep lakes to playas to mostly dry dune fields to airfall dust or ash subjected to only minor alteration driven by snowmelt. The complexity of the mound suggests that multiple depositional and diagenetic processes are represented in the materials exposed today. Beginning in August 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity will explore Gale crater by ascending the mound's northwestern flank, providing unprecedented new detail on the evolution of environmental conditions and habitability over many millions of years during which the mound strata accumulated.

scholarly journals The first X-ray diffraction measurements on Mars

IUCrJ ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 514-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bish ◽  
David Blake ◽  
David Vaniman ◽  
Philippe Sarrazin ◽  
Thomas Bristow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Studies ◽  
Central Peak ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cell Parameters ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Quantitative Mineralogy ◽  
Transmission Geometry ◽  
Two Samples

The Mars Science Laboratory landed in Gale crater on Mars in August 2012, and the Curiosity rover then began field studies on its drive toward Mount Sharp, a central peak made of ancient sediments. CheMin is one of ten instruments on or inside the rover, all designed to provide detailed information on the rocks, soils and atmosphere in this region. CheMin is a miniaturized X-ray diffraction/X-ray fluorescence (XRD/XRF) instrument that uses transmission geometry with an energy-discriminating CCD detector. CheMin uses onboard standards for XRD and XRF calibration, and beryl:quartz mixtures constitute the primary XRD standards. Four samples have been analysed by CheMin, namely a soil sample, two samples drilled from mudstones and a sample drilled from a sandstone. Rietveld and full-pattern analysis of the XRD data reveal a complex mineralogy, with contributions from parent igneous rocks, amorphous components and several minerals relating to aqueous alteration. In particular, the mudstone samples all contain one or more phyllosilicates consistent with alteration in liquid water. In addition to quantitative mineralogy, Rietveld refinements also provide unit-cell parameters for the major phases, which can be used to infer the chemical compositions of individual minerals and, by difference, the composition of the amorphous component.

SELECT OBSERVATIONS OF THE COARSE SEDIMENT RECORD AT GALE CRATER FROM MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY CAMERAS

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M.E. Williams ◽  
◽  
Kathryn M. Stack ◽  
William E. Dietrich ◽  
David E. Eby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Laboratory ◽  
Sediment Record ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Coarse Sediment

scholarly journals Mars Science Laboratory Observations of Chloride Salts in Gale Crater, Mars

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (19) ◽  
pp. 10754-10763 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. H. Thomas ◽  
B. L. Ehlmann ◽  
P.‐Y. Meslin ◽  
W. Rapin ◽  
D. E. Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Laboratory ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Chloride Salts
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