Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Introduction and historical perspective
- 1 Exploration of the Martian surface: 1992–2007
- 2 Historical context: the pre-MGS view of Mars' surface composition
- Part II Elemental Composition: Orbital and in situ Surface Measurements
- Part III Mineralogy and Remote Sensing of Rocks, Soil, Dust, and Ices
- Part IV Physical Properties of Surface Materials
- Part V Synthesis
- Part VI Summary, Upcoming Missions, and New Measurement Needs
- Index
- Plate section
- References
2 - Historical context: the pre-MGS view of Mars' surface composition
from Part I - Introduction and historical perspective
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Introduction and historical perspective
- 1 Exploration of the Martian surface: 1992–2007
- 2 Historical context: the pre-MGS view of Mars' surface composition
- Part II Elemental Composition: Orbital and in situ Surface Measurements
- Part III Mineralogy and Remote Sensing of Rocks, Soil, Dust, and Ices
- Part IV Physical Properties of Surface Materials
- Part V Synthesis
- Part VI Summary, Upcoming Missions, and New Measurement Needs
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the state of understanding of Mars surface composition in the decade before the arrival of Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder (about 1987–1997), updating earlier historical reviews on this topic by Soderblom (1992) and Roush et al. (1993). Here we summarize analyses of telescopic and spacecraft spectroscopic data sets with reference to relevant terrestrial analog studies, laboratory measurements, and modeling work. The chapter is organized around a synthesis of surface mineralogy types that have been identified and searched for: unaltered mafic volcanic minerals; alteration products including oxidized iron, hydrated minerals, and phyllosilicates; the search for carbonates; early, if equivocal evidence of sulfates; and finally, polar deposits. We highlight the way that these precursor studies have influenced the design, selection, and implementation of the current generation of science investigations focused on unraveling the composition and mineralogy of the surface of Mars.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Martian SurfaceComposition, Mineralogy and Physical Properties, pp. 20 - 30Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008
References
- 3
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