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Outcrop‐scale physical properties of Burns Formation at Meridiani Planum, Mars
Author(s) -
Nahm Amanda L.,
Schultz Richard A.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1029/2007gl031005
Subject(s) - outcrop , geology , ultimate tensile strength , regolith , modulus , mars exploration program , mineralogy , geotechnical engineering , geomorphology , composite material , materials science , astrobiology , physics
A rock mass rating (RMR) analysis was performed on an outcrop of Burns Formation at Meridiani Planum, Mars. RMR values were calculated for the present dry conditions (RMR = 63) and past wet conditions (RMR = 52). For present‐day dry conditions, the rock mass has an in situ modulus of deformation ( E *) of 21.1 GPa, cohesive strength ( C * 0 ) of 4.64 MPa, and tensile strength ( T * 0 ) of −0.24 MPa. These values were reduced by at most ∼50% during previous water‐saturated conditions. The critical grain crushing pressure ( P *) for dry conditions is 19.5 GPa, with an uncertainty of about an order of magnitude. Analysis of the rover observations indicates that the physical properties of Burns Formation are in the range of analogous terrestrial porous rock masses such as sandstone and shale.