Journal article
GRS evidence and the possibility of paleooceans on Mars
Planetary and space science, Vol.57(5), pp.664-684
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/112814
Abstract
The Gamma Ray Spectrometer (Mars Odyssey spacecraft) has revealed elemental distributions of potassium (K), thorium (Th), and iron (Fe) on Mars that require fractionation of K (and possibly Th and Fe) consistent with aqueous activity. This includes weathering, evolution of soils, and transport, sorting, and deposition, as well as with the location of first-order geomorphological demarcations identified as possible paleoocean boundaries. The element abundances occur in patterns consistent with weathering
in situ and possible presence of relict or exhumed paleosols, deposition of weathered materials (salts and clastic minerals), and weathering/transport under neutral to acidic brines. The abundances are explained by hydrogeology consistent with the possibly overlapping alternatives of paleooceans and/or heterogeneous rock compositions from diverse provenances (e.g., differing igneous compositions).
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Details
- Title
- GRS evidence and the possibility of paleooceans on Mars
- Creators
- James M Dohm - Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAVictor R Baker - Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAWilliam V Boynton - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAAlberto G Fairén - Space Science and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USAJustin C Ferris - California Water Science Center, US Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA 95819, USAMichael Finch - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USARoberto Furfaro - Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USATrent M Hare - United States Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USADaniel M Janes - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAJeffrey S Kargel - Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USASuniti Karunatillake - Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USAJohn Keller - Department of Physics, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA 9340, USAKris Kerry - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAKyeong J Kim - Geological and Environmental Hazards Division, Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, Daejeon, South KoreaGoro Komatsu - International Research School of Planetary Sciences, Università d’Annunzio, Pescara, ItalyWilliam C Mahaney - Geomorphology and Pedology Laboratory, York University, Atkinson College, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3Dirk Schulze-Makuch - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USALucia Marinangeli - International Research School of Planetary Sciences, Università d’Annunzio, Pescara, ItalyGian G Ori - International Research School of Planetary Sciences, Università d’Annunzio, Pescara, ItalyJavier Ruiz - Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, SpainShawn J Wheelock - Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Publication Details
- Planetary and space science, Vol.57(5), pp.664-684
- Academic Unit
- UNKNOWN
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 99900548075901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article