Hydrated minerals like sulfates and phyllosilicates that have been detected on Mars by OMEGA/MEX [Gendrin et al., 2005; Poulet et al., 2005; Bibring et al., 2006; Mangold et al., 2007; Poulet et al., 2007] constitute direct records of its past aqueous activity. These minerals provide information about the environmental processes on the abundance and duration of water and importance of chemical alteration. These alteration products are supposed to result from different formation processes occurring during distinct climatic episodes [Poulet et al., 2005].
At four areas on Mars, hydrated minerals have been detected at a global scale: Terra, Meridiani, Mawrth Vallis, Nili Fossae, and Aram Chaos. The sulfates detected in Valles Marineris have been identified at smaller scale as they appear in small isolated areas. Altogether, the surface of Mars is lacking hydrated minerals at the detection threshold limit at 1.9 µm [Poulet et al., 2007].
References
Last update: 20/05/2010 14:15