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Mars: Regolith adsorption and the relative concentrations of atmospheric rare gases
Author(s) -
Fanale Fraser P.,
Can W. A.,
Owen Tobias
Publication year - 1978
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/gl005i001p00077
Subject(s) - regolith , mars exploration program , martian , martian soil , astrobiology , martian surface , basalt , adsorption , limonite , chondrite , geology , meteorite , mineralogy , environmental science , materials science , geochemistry , chemistry , physics , hematite , organic chemistry
Laboratory measurements of Kr and Xe adsorption on samples of ground montmorillonite, limonite and basalt at −77°C have been performed. Results suggest that 1) most degassed martian Xe could be adsorbed on a regolith with a large effective surface area, and 2) if this is the case the elemental composition of martian nonradiogenic rare gas (counting that in the regolith) may be virtually identical to that of ordinary chondrites.