Mineralogic constraints on sulfur‐rich soils from Pancam spectra at Gusev crater, Mars

摘要: [1] The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Spirit excavated sulfur-rich soils exhibiting high albedo and relatively white to yellow colors at three main locations on south of Husband Hill in Gusev crater, Mars. The multispectral visible/near-infrared properties these disturbed revealed by the Pancam stereo color camera vary appreciably over small spatial scales, but exhibit spectral features suggestive ferric sulfates. Spectral mixture models constrain mineralogy include sulfates various states hydration, such as ferricopiapite [Fe2/32+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2·20(H2O)], hydronium jarosite [(H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6], fibroferrite [Fe3+(SO4)(OH)·5(H2O)], rhomboclase [HFe3+(SO4)2·4(H2O)], paracoquimbite [Fe3+2(SO4)3·9(H2O)].