Ferric oxides in East Candor Chasma, Valles Marineris (Mars) inferred from analysis of OMEGA/Mars Express data: Identification and geological interpretation

Research areas:

• Environnement, Paléo-Environnement et Bio-Indicateurs (2011 - 2016)

Year:

2008

Authors:

• Laetitia Le Deit
• Stéphane Le Mouélic
• Olivier Bourgeois
• Jean-Philippe Combe
• Christophe Sotin
• Aline Gendrin
• Ernst Hauber
• Nicolas Mangold
• Jean-Pierre Bibring

Journal:

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS

Volume:

113

Number:

E7

Month:

JUL 1

ISSN:

2169-9097

BibTex:

@article{WOS:000257433200001, author = "Laetitia Le Deit and St{\'e}phane Le Mou{\'e}lic and Olivier Bourgeois and Jean-Philippe Combe and Christophe Sotin and Aline Gendrin and Ernst Hauber and Nicolas Mangold and Jean-Pierre Bibring", abstract = "The mineralogical composition of the Martian surface is constrained by analyzing the data of the OMEGA visible and near infrared imaging spectrometer onboard Mars Express. Ferric signatures had previously been reported in Valles Marineris, Margaritifer Terra, and Terra Meridiani. Here we use three independent data reduction methods (Spectral Angle Mapper, a modified Spectral Mixture Analysis and Modified Gaussian Model) to detect and map ferric oxides in East Candor Chasma, a part of Valles Marineris. Ferric oxides in East Candor Chasma are concentrated in scattered formations. MOLA altimetry indicates that the ferric oxides are preferentially located in topographic lows. THEMIS, HRSC and MOC images show that the ferric oxide spectral signatures are systematically correlated with superficial deposits of low albedo, located at the foot of, or resting on Interior Layered Deposits (ILDs). This spatial distribution suggests that ferric oxides are genetically linked to ILDs. Gravity and wind-driven remobilization of ferric oxides previously formed in the ILDs can explain their accumulation around the ILDs.", doi = "10.1029/2007JE002950", extra = "PICL", issn = "2169-9097", journal = "JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS", month = "JUL 1", number = "E7", title = "{F}erric oxides in {E}ast {C}andor {C}hasma, {V}alles {M}arineris ({M}ars) inferred from analysis of {OMEGA}/{M}ars {E}xpress data: {I}dentification and geological interpretation", volume = "113", year = "2008", }

Abstract:

The mineralogical composition of the Martian surface is constrained by
analyzing the data of the OMEGA visible and near infrared imaging
spectrometer onboard Mars Express. Ferric signatures had previously been
reported in Valles Marineris, Margaritifer Terra, and Terra Meridiani.
Here we use three independent data reduction methods (Spectral Angle
Mapper, a modified Spectral Mixture Analysis and Modified Gaussian
Model) to detect and map ferric oxides in East Candor Chasma, a part of
Valles Marineris. Ferric oxides in East Candor Chasma are concentrated
in scattered formations. MOLA altimetry indicates that the ferric oxides
are preferentially located in topographic lows. THEMIS, HRSC and MOC
images show that the ferric oxide spectral signatures are systematically
correlated with superficial deposits of low albedo, located at the foot
of, or resting on Interior Layered Deposits (ILDs). This spatial
distribution suggests that ferric oxides are genetically linked to ILDs.
Gravity and wind-driven remobilization of ferric oxides previously
formed in the ILDs can explain their accumulation around the ILDs.