On the original igneous source of Martian fines

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(81)90009-9· OSTI ID:5422940

Baird, A K ^[1]; Clark, B C ^[2]

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1. Pomona College, Claremont, CA
2. Martin Marietta Planetary Sciences Laboratory, Denver, CO

The composition of the silicate portion of Martian regolith fines indicates derivation of the fines from mafic to ultramafic rocks, probably rich in pyroxene. Rock types similar in chemical and mineralogical composition include terrestrial Archean basalts and certain achondrite meteorites. If these igneous rocks weathered nearly isochemically, the nontronitic clays proposed earlier as an analog to Martian fines could be formed. Flood basalts of pyroxenitic lavas may be widespread and characteristic of early volcanism on Mars, analogous to maria flood basalts on the moon and early Precambrian basaltic komatiites on earth. Compositional differences between lunar, terrestrial, and Martian flood basalts may be related to differences in planetary sizes and mantle compositions of the respective planetary objects.

• OSTI ID: 5422940
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 45; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASALT
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MARS PLANET
METEORITES
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
OVERBURDEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETARY EVOLUTION
PLANETS
PYROXENES
ROCKS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
SURFACES
VOLCANIC ROCKS
VOLCANOES