Crystal chemistry of martian minerals from Bradbury Landing through Naukluft Plateau, Gale crater, Mars

Abstract Crystal chemical algorithms were used to estimate the chemical composition of selected mineral phases observed with the CheMin X-ray diffractometer onboard the NASA Curiosity rover in Gale crater, Mars. The sampled materials include two wind-blown soils, Rocknest and Gobabeb, six mudstones in the Yellowknife Bay formation (John Klein and Cumberland) and the Murray formation (Confidence Hills, Mojave2, and Telegraph Peak), as well as five sandstones, Windjana and the samples of the unaltered Stimson formation (Big Sky and Okoruso) and the altered Stimson formation (Greenhorn and Lubango). The major mineral phases observed with the CheMin instrument in the Gale crater include plagioclase, sanidine, P21/c and C2/c clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, olivine, spinel, and alunite-jarosite group minerals. The plagioclase analyzed with CheMin has an overall estimated average of An40(11) with a range of An30(8) to An63(6). The soil samples, Rocknest and Gobabeb, have an average of An56(8) while the Murray, Yellowknife Bay, unaltered Stimson, and altered Stimson formations have averages of An38(2), An37(5), An45(7), and An35(6), respectively. Alkali feldspar, specifically sanidine, average composition is Or74(17) with fully disordered Al/Si. Sanidine is most abundant in the Windjana sample (~26 wt% of the crystalline material) and is fully disordered with a composition of Or87(5). The P21/c clinopyroxene pigeonite observed in Gale crater has a broad compositional range {[Mg0.95(12)–1.54(17)Fe0.18(17)–1.03(9)Ca0.00–0.28(6)]Σ2Si2O6} with an overall average of Mg1.18(19)Fe0.72(7)Ca0.10(9)Si2O6. The soils have the lowest Mg and highest Fe compositions [Mg0.95(5)Fe1.02(7)Ca0.03(4)Si2O6] of all of the Gale samples. Of the remaining samples, those of the Stimson formation exhibit the highest Mg and lowest Fe [average = Mg1.45(7)Fe0.35(13)Ca0.19(6)Si2O6]. Augite, C2/c clinopyroxene, is detected in just three samples, the soil samples [average = Mg0.92(5)Ca0.72(2)Fe0.36(5)Si2O6] and Windjana (Mg1.03(7)Ca0.75(4)Fe0.21(9)Si2O6). Orthopyroxene was not detected in the soil samples and has an overall average composition of Mg0.79(6)Fe1.20(6)Ca0.01(2)Si2O6 and a range of [Mg0.69(7)–0.86(20)Fe1.14(20)–1.31(7)Ca0.00–0.04(4)]Σ2Si2O6, with Big Sky exhibiting the lowest Mg content [Mg0.69(7)Fe1.31(7)Si2O6] and Okoruso exhibiting the highest [Mg0.86(20)Fe1.14(20)Si2O6]. Appreciable olivine was observed in only three of the Gale crater samples, the soils and Windjana. Assuming no Mn or Ca, the olivine has an average composition of Mg1.19(12)Fe0.81(12)SiO4 with a range of 1.08(3) to 1.45(7) Mg apfu. The soil samples [average = Mg1.11(4)Fe0.89SiO4] are significantly less magnesian than Windjana [Mg1.35(7)Fe0.65(7)SiO4]. We assume magnetite (Fe3O4) is cation-deficient (Fe3–x□xO4) in Gale crater samples [average = Fe2.83(5)□0.14O4; range 2.75(5) to 2.90(5) Fe apfu], but we also report other plausible cation substitutions such as Al, Mg, and Cr that would yield equivalent unit-cell parameters. Assuming cation-deficient magnetite, the Murray formation [average = Fe2.77(2)□0.23O4] is noticeably more cation-deficient than the other Gale samples analyzed by CheMin. Note that despite the presence of Ti-rich magnetite in martian meteorites, the unit-cell parameters of Gale magnetite do not permit significant Ti substitution. Abundant jarosite is found in only one sample, Mojave2; its estimated composition is (K0.51(12)Na0.49) (Fe2.68(7)Al0.32)(SO4)2(OH)6. In addition to providing composition and abundances of the crystalline phases, we calculate the lower limit of the abundance of X-ray amorphous material and the composition thereof for each of the samples analyzed with CheMin. Each of the CheMin samples had a significant proportion of amorphous SiO2, except Windjana that has 3.6 wt% SiO2. Excluding Windjana, the amorphous materials have an SiO2 range of 24.1 to 75.9 wt% and an average of 47.6 wt%. Windjana has the highest FeOT (total Fe content calculated as FeO) at 43.1 wt%, but most of the CheMin samples also contain appreciable Fe, with an average of 16.8 wt%. With the exception of the altered Stimson formation samples, Greenhorn and Lubango, the majority of the observed SO3 is concentrated in the amorphous component (average = 11.6 wt%). Furthermore, we provide average amorphous-component compositions for the soils and the Mount Sharp group formations, as well as the limiting element for each CheMin sample.

[1]  D. Ming,et al.  Relationships between unit-cell parameters and composition for rock-forming minerals on Earth, Mars, and other extraterrestrial bodies , 2018, American Mineralogist.

[2]  R. Gellert,et al.  APXS‐derived chemistry of the Bagnold dune sands: Comparisons with Gale Crater soils and the global Martian average , 2017 .

[3]  Andrew Steele,et al.  Evolved gas analyses of sedimentary rocks and eolian sediment in Gale Crater, Mars: Results of the Curiosity rover's sample analysis at Mars instrument from Yellowknife Bay to the Namib Dune , 2017 .

[4]  Richard V. Morris,et al.  Mineralogy of an active eolian sediment from the Namib dune, Gale crater, Mars , 2017 .

[5]  D. Ming,et al.  Multiple stages of aqueous alteration along fractures in mudstone and sandstone strata in Gale Crater, Mars , 2017 .

[6]  Linda C. Kah,et al.  Mineralogy of an ancient lacustrine mudstone succession from the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars , 2017 .

[7]  D. Ming,et al.  Redox stratification of an ancient lake in Gale crater, Mars , 2017, Science.

[8]  S. McLennan,et al.  Sorting out compositional trends in sedimentary rocks of the Bradbury group (Aeolis Palus), Gale crater, Mars , 2017 .

[9]  H. Leroux,et al.  Regolith breccia Northwest Africa 7533: Mineralogy and petrology with implications for early Mars , 2017 .

[10]  Trevor G. Graff,et al.  Silicic volcanism on Mars evidenced by tridymite in high-SiO2 sedimentary rock at Gale crater , 2016, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[11]  F. McCubbin,et al.  Rb‐Sr and Sm‐Nd isotopic and REE studies of igneous components in the bulk matrix domain of Martian breccia Northwest Africa 7034 , 2016 .

[12]  Roger C. Wiens,et al.  The potassic sedimentary rocks in Gale Crater, Mars, as seen by ChemCam on board Curiosity , 2016 .

[13]  D. Ming,et al.  Recognizing sulfate and phosphate complexes chemisorbed onto nanophase weathering products on Mars using in-situ and remote observations , 2016 .

[14]  D. Ming,et al.  Mineralogy, provenance, and diagenesis of a potassic basaltic sandstone on Mars: CheMin X‐ray diffraction of the Windjana sample (Kimberley area, Gale Crater) , 2016, Journal of geophysical research. Planets.

[15]  A. Treiman,et al.  MANTLE METASOMATISM IN MARS: POTASSIC BASALTIC SANDSTONE IN GALE CRATER DERIVED FROM PARTIAL MELT OF PHLOGOPITE-PERIDOTITE , 2016 .

[16]  F. McCubbin,et al.  Petrology of igneous clasts in Northwest Africa 7034: Implications for the petrologic diversity of the martian crust , 2015 .

[17]  D. Ming,et al.  The origin and implications of clay minerals from Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars , 2015, The American mineralogist.

[18]  R. Korotev,et al.  Petrography and composition of Martian regolith breccia meteorite Northwest Africa 7475 , 2015 .

[19]  Msl,et al.  In Situ Compositional Measurements of Rocks and Soils with the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer on NASA's Mars Rovers , 2015 .

[20]  J. Filiberto,et al.  Constraints on the depth and thermal vigor of melting in the Martian mantle , 2015 .

[21]  Scott M. McLennan,et al.  Constraints on abundance, composition, and nature of X‐ray amorphous components of soils and rocks at Gale crater, Mars , 2014 .

[22]  Alok K. Gupta.  Origin of Potassium-rich Silica-deficient Igneous Rocks , 2014 .

[23]  R. Morris,et al.  Ferrian saponite from the Santa Monica Mountains (California, U.S.A., Earth): Characterization as an analog for clay minerals on Mars with application to Yellowknife Bay in Gale Crater , 2014 .

[24]  D. Ming,et al.  Amorphous Phases on the Surface of Mars , 2014 .

[25]  R. V. Morris,et al.  Mineralogy of a Mudstone at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars , 2014, Science.

[26]  A. Yingst,et al.  A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars , 2014, Science.

[27]  R. Angel,et al.  Structural controls on the anisotropy of tetrahedral frameworks: the example of monoclinic feldspars , 2013 .

[28]  A. Christy,et al.  What Lurks in the Martian Rocks and Soil? Investigations of Sulfates, Phosphates, and Perchlorates. Looking for jarosite on Mars: The low-temperature crystal structure of jarosite , 2013 .

[29]  R. V. Morris,et al.  X-ray Diffraction Results from Mars Science Laboratory: Mineralogy of Rocknest at Gale Crater , 2013, Science.

[30]  John P Grotzinger,et al.  Analysis of Surface Materials by the Curiosity Mars Rover , 2013, Science.

[31]  R. V. Morris,et al.  Curiosity at Gale Crater, Mars: Characterization and Analysis of the Rocknest Sand Shadow , 2013, Science.

[32]  S. Clark,et al.  High pressure single-crystal micro X-ray diffraction analysis with GSE_ADA/RSV software , 2013 .

[33]  D. Bish,et al.  Fitting Full X-Ray Diffraction Patterns for Quantitative Analysis: A Method for Readily Quantifying Crystalline and Disordered Phases , 2013 .

[34]  R. Nealc,et al.  Martian meteorites , 2013, Atlas of Meteorites.

[35]  Hongwei Ma,et al.  Characterization and Calibration of the CheMin Mineralogical Instrument on Mars Science Laboratory , 2012 .

[36]  Luther W. Beegle,et al.  Collecting Samples in Gale Crater, Mars; an Overview of the Mars Science Laboratory Sample Acquisition, Sample Processing and Handling System , 2012 .

[37]  R. Gellert,et al.  Calibration of the Mars Science Laboratory Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer , 2012 .

[38]  J. Papike,et al.  Silicate mineralogy of martian meteorites , 2009 .

[39]  T. Plank,et al.  Constraints on the depths and temperatures of basaltic magma generation on Earth and other terrestrial planets using new thermobarometers for mafic magmas , 2009 .

[40]  D. Ming,et al.  Iron mineralogy and aqueous alteration from Husband Hill through Home Plate at Gusev Crater, Mars: Results from the Mössbauer instrument on the Spirit Mars Exploration Rover , 2008 .

[41]  D. Ming,et al.  Hydrothermal synthesis of hematite spherules and jarosite: Implications for diagenesis and hematite spherule formation in sulfate outcrops at Meridiani Planum, Mars , 2008 .

[42]  P. Christensen,et al.  The Martian Surface: The mineralogy of Gusev crater and Meridiani Planum derived from the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometers on the Spirit and Opportunity rovers , 2008 .

[43]  Scort,et al.  Naturally occurring ferric iron sanidine from the Leucite Hills lamproite , 2007 .

[44]  Kathleen S. Smith,et al.  Understanding Contaminants Associated with Mineral Deposits , 2007 .

[45]  Raymond E. Arvidson,et al.  Mossbauer mineralogy of rock, soil, and dust at Meridiani Planum, Mars: Opportunity's journey across sulfate-rich outcrop, basaltic sand and dust, and hematite lag deposits , 2006 .

[46]  William H. Farrand,et al.  Chemistry and mineralogy of outcrops at Meridiani Planum , 2005 .

[47]  U. Bonnes,et al.  Jarosite and Hematite at Meridiani Planum from Opportunity's Mössbauer Spectrometer , 2004, Science.

[48]  M. D. Smith,et al.  Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover , 2004, Science.

[49]  Everett L. Shock,et al.  Formation of jarosite‐bearing deposits through aqueous oxidation of pyrite at Meridiani Planum, Mars , 2004 .

[50]  M. Malin,et al.  The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) for the Mars 2001 Odyssey Mission , 2004 .

[51]  David L. Bish,et al.  FULLPAT: a full-pattern quantitative analysis program for X-ray powder diffraction using measured and calculated patterns , 2002 .

[52]  J. Beckett,et al.  The origin of abyssal peridotites: a reinterpretation of constraints based on primary bulk compositions , 1999 .

[53]  M. Allison,et al.  Accurate analytic representations of solar time and seasons on Mars with applications to the Pathfinder/Surveyor missions , 1997 .

[54]  K. Linthout,et al.  Ferrian high sanidine in a lamproite from Cancarix, Spain , 1993, Mineralogical Magazine.

[55]  R. Sack.  Some constraints on the thermodynamic mixing properties of Fe-Mg orthopyroxenes and olivines , 1980 .

[56]  W. Taylor,et al.  The crystal structures of nine K feldspars from the Adamello Massif (Northern Italy) , 1978 .

[57]  A. C. Turnock,et al.  Synthesis and unit cell parameters of Ca-Mg-Fe pyroxenes , 1973 .