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chemical composition of martian soil and rocks: Complex mixing and sedimentary transport
Author(s) -
McLennan Scott M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl008432
Subject(s) - sedimentary rock , geology , martian , mixing (physics) , geochemistry , chemical composition , martian soil , mineralogy , soil water , sulfur , fractionation , soil science , astrobiology , mars exploration program , chemistry , martian surface , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Chemical compositions of Martian soil and rocks indicate complex mixing relationships. Mixing of rock and soil clearly takes place and explains some of the chemical variation because sulfur, chlorine, magnesium, and perhaps iron are positively correlated due to their control from a secondary “sedimentary” mineralogy (e.g., Mg‐ and possibly Fesulfate; Fe‐oxides) that is present within the soils. Certain deviations from simple soil‐rock mixing are consistent with mineralogical fractionation of detrital iron and titanium oxides during sedimentary transport.