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Rocas basálticas analizadas por el Spirit Rover en el cráter Gusev
H Y McSween1, R E Arvidson, J F Bell
1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1410, USA. mcsween@utk.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 7, 2004
Resumen
El rover Spirit descubrió lavas basálticas picríticas en el sitio de aterrizaje del cráter Gusev en Marte. Estas rocas, ricas en olivino y piroxeno, amplían nuestra comprensión de la composición de la corteza marciana.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Geología Geología Geología.
- Ciencias planetarias Ciencias planetarias.
- La mineralogía es la Mineralogía.
Sus antecedentes:
- El rover Spirit exploró el cráter Gusev en Marte.
- El sitio de aterrizaje presenta rocas oscuras, de grano fino y vesiculares interpretadas como lavas.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para caracterizar la composición y el origen de las rocas en el sitio de aterrizaje del Spirit.
- Para ampliar el rango conocido de composiciones de la corteza marciana.
Principales métodos:
- Análisis de los espectros de Pancam y del espectrómetro de emisión térmica en miniatura (Mini-TES).
- Examen de imágenes ampliadas de superficies rocosas cepilladas y rasgadas.
- Análisis químico utilizando el espectrómetro de rayos X de partículas alfa (APXS).
- Espectroscopia de Mössbauer. también conocida como espectroscopia de Mössbauer.
Principales resultados:
- Las rocas son similares, pero poseen revestimientos variables y mantos de polvo.
- Las cáscaras y venas de alteración son visibles en las superficies rocosas.
- Los interiores de las rocas contienen hasta un 25% de megacristales.
- Los análisis químicos y espectrales indican basaltos picríticos con olivino, piroxeno, plagioclasa y óxidos FeTi normativos.
- Se ha confirmado la presencia de olivina, magnetita y probablemente piroxeno.
Conclusiones:
- Las rocas analizadas son consistentes con los basaltos picríticos.
- Estos hallazgos amplían la comprensión de la diversidad de rocas ígneas en Marte.
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