Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit's Microscopic Imager

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 305; no. 5685; pp. 824 - 826
• Main Authors: Herkenhoff, K. E., Squyres, S. W., Arvidson, R., Bass, D. S., Bell, J. F., Bertelsen, P., Cabrol, N. A., Gaddis, L., Hayes, A. G., Hviid, S. F., Johnson, J. R., Kinch, K. M., Madsen, M. B., Maki, J. N., McLennan, S. M., McSween, H. Y., Rice, J. W., Sims, M., Smith, P. H., Soderblom, L. A., Spanovich, N., Sullivan, R., Wang, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 06-08-2004
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.3050824

The Microscopic Imager on the Spirit rover analyzed the textures of the soil and rocks at Gusev crater on Mars at a resolution of 100 micrometers. Weakly bound agglomerates of dust are present in the soil near the Columbia Memorial Station. Some of the brushed or abraded rock surfaces show igneous textures and evidence for alteration rinds, coatings, and veins consistent with secondary mineralization. The rock textures are consistent with a volcanic origin and subsequent alteration and/or weathering by impact events, wind, and possibly water.