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USGS Astrogeology: Research: Publications: Science Magazine

Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Ancient Water on Meridiani Planum Issue Date: 12/03/2004 Volume: 306 Page: 1727 View: Abstract | Full Text of the Paper Left: False-color merge of MI image of target Munter (1M133692453), taken on sol 62, with Pancam multispectral data (effective wavelengths of 602, 535, and 483 nm). The MI image was acquired after MB contact, when the target was in complete shadow. The area shown is 3 cm across.

Summary

The Microscopic Imager on the Opportunity rover analyzed textures of soils and rocks at Meridiani Planum at a scale of 31 micrometers per pixel. The uppermost millimeter of some soils is weakly cemented, whereas other soils show little evidence of cohesion. Rock outcrops are laminated on a millimeter scale; image mosaics of cross-stratification suggest that some sediments were deposited by flowing water. Vugs in some outcrop faces are probably molds formed by dissolution of relatively soluble minerals during diagenesis. Microscopic images support the hypothesis that hematite-rich spherules observed in outcrops and soils also formed diagenetically as concretions.

Authors

K. E. Herkenhoff, S. W. Squyres, R. Arvidson, D. S. Bass, J. F. Bell, III, P. Bertelsen,5 N. A. Cabrol, L. Gaddis, A. G. Hayes, S. F. Hviid, J. R. Johnson, K. M. Kinch, M. B. Madsen, J. N. Maki, S. M. McLennan, H. Y. McSween, J. W. Rice, Jr., M. Sims, P. H. Smith, L. A. Soderblom, N. Spanovich, R. Sullivan, A. Wang

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Additional Information

For additional information, please contact Ken Herkenhoff.

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Related USGS Astrogeology Research Program Resources

Project: Mars Exploration Rovers - overview of the MER Mission and Astrogeology's involvement in the Microscopic Imager instrument

Topic: Mars Rover Missions - learn more about our involvement in MER

Topic: Mars - find our Mars related project, products, and mission involvement

Topic: Remote Sensing Research - access information about our remote sensing research