Gusev Crater, Mars

Fig. 8.30 The Instrument Deployment Device (IDD) above the surface of Mars, showing all the four in situ instruments left) the MIMOS II with its contact ring can be seen in the front picture taken at Meridiani Planum, Mars right) MIMOS II is located on the left side picture taken at Gusev Crater, Mars...

Fig. 8.32 The first Mossbauer Spectrum ever taken outside Earth, at Gusev Crater, Mars. It shows the basaltic composition of the plains at the landing site of the Rover Spirit...

Mossbauer Spectrum of Adirondack Rock (Sol 16, Gusev Crater, Mars)... 

Fleischer, I. et al. 2008. Depth selective Mossbauer Spectroscopy Analysis and simulation of 6.4 keV and 14.4 keV spectra obtained from rocks at Gusev crater, Mars, and layered laboratory samples. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, E06S21,... 

Ming, D.W. et al. 2006. Geochemical and mineralogical indicators for aqueous processes in the Columbia Hills of Gusev crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111, E02S12,... 

Morris, R.V. et al. 2008. Iron mineralogy and aqueous alteration from Husband Hill through Home Plate at Gusev Crater, Mars Results from the Mossbauer instrument on the Spirit Mars Exploration Rover. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, E12S42,... 

Alkalis versus silica diagram used for geochemical classification of volcanic rocks. Martian meteorites, Gusev crater rocks and soils analyzed by the Spirit rover, and Bounce Rock analyzed by the Opportunity rover generally plot in the field of basalts, as does the average Mars Odyssey GRS analysis. Compositions derived from TES spectra (Surface Types 1 and 2) and the Mars Pathfinder dust-free rock plot in the basaltic andesite and andesite fields. After McSween et at. (2009). 

Fig. 5.13. The landing site (Gusev Crater) of the Mars Spirit rover. Courtesy NASA / JPL/Caltech...

Fig. 2.48 First Mossbauer spectrum recorded on the Martian surface at Gusev crater (17th January 2004, measuring time 3 h 25 min). The inset shows a view of the Rover and of the MIMOS spectrometer operating on Mars [84, 85]...

The first Mossbauer spectrum recorded on the surface of Mars was obtained in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater [83] close to the Rover landing site (Fig. 2.48). It clearly revealed Fe containing species (olivine and pyroxene) as well as some Fe species, not yet identified at that stage. The discovery of olivine, commonly found in lava on earth, was quite informative since this mineral is known to weather to clays and iron oxides in the presence of water [84, 85]. 

G. Klingelhofer, E. De Grave, R.V. Morris, A Alboom, V.G. Resende, P.A Souza Jr, D. Rodionov, C. Schroeder, D.W. Ming, A. Yen, Mossbauer spectroscopy on Mars goethite in the Columbia Hills at Gusev crater. Hyperfine Interact. 166, 549 (2006)... 

A few days later, on June 10, the US vehicle Spirit (MER-A) started its journey on board was a Mars rover which was intended to investigate rock samples and to look for water. The landing in the crater Gusev took place on January 4, 2004. 

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