A global Mars dust composition refined by the Alpha-Particle X-ray Spectrometer in Gale Crater

Jeff A. Berger; Mariek E. Schmidt; Ralf Gellert; John L. Campbell; Penelope L. King; Roberta L. Flemming; Douglas W. Ming; Benton C. Clark; Irina Pradler; Scott J.V. Vanbommel; Michelle E. Minitti; Alberto G. Fairén; Nicholas I. Boyd; Lucy M. Thompson; Glynis M. Perrett; Beverley E. Elliott; Elstan Desouza

doi:10.1002/2015GL066675

A global Mars dust composition refined by the Alpha-Particle X-ray Spectrometer in Gale Crater

Jeff A. Berger^*, Mariek E. Schmidt, Ralf Gellert, John L. Campbell, Penelope L. King, Roberta L. Flemming, Douglas W. Ming, Benton C. Clark, Irina Pradler, Scott J.V. Vanbommel, Michelle E. Minitti, Alberto G. Fairén, Nicholas I. Boyd, Lucy M. Thompson, Glynis M. Perrett, Beverley E. Elliott, Elstan Desouza

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Modern Martian dust is similar in composition to the global soil unit and bulk basaltic Mars crust, but it is enriched in S and Cl. The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover analyzed air fall dust on the science observation tray (o-tray) in Gale Crater to determine dust oxide compositions. The o-tray dust has the highest concentrations of SO₃ and Cl measured in Mars dust (SO₃ 8.3%; Cl 1.1 wt %). The molar S/Cl in the dust (3.35 ± 0.34) is consistent with previous studies of Martian dust and soils (S/Cl = 3.7 ± 0.7). Fe is also elevated ~25% over average Mars soils and the bulk crust. These enrichments link air fall dust with the S-, Cl-, and Fe-rich X-ray amorphous component of Gale Crater soil. Dust and soil have the same S/Cl, constraining the surface concentrations of S and Cl on a global scale.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	67-75
Number of pages	9
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	43
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066675
Publication status	Published - 16 Jan 2016

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Berger, J. A., Schmidt, M. E., Gellert, R., Campbell, J. L., King, P. L., Flemming, R. L., Ming, D. W., Clark, B. C., Pradler, I., Vanbommel, S. J. V., Minitti, M. E., Fairén, A. G., Boyd, N. I., Thompson, L. M., Perrett, G. M., Elliott, B. E., & Desouza, E. (2016). A global Mars dust composition refined by the Alpha-Particle X-ray Spectrometer in Gale Crater. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(1), 67-75. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066675

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title = "A global Mars dust composition refined by the Alpha-Particle X-ray Spectrometer in Gale Crater",

abstract = "Modern Martian dust is similar in composition to the global soil unit and bulk basaltic Mars crust, but it is enriched in S and Cl. The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover analyzed air fall dust on the science observation tray (o-tray) in Gale Crater to determine dust oxide compositions. The o-tray dust has the highest concentrations of SO3 and Cl measured in Mars dust (SO3 8.3%; Cl 1.1 wt %). The molar S/Cl in the dust (3.35 ± 0.34) is consistent with previous studies of Martian dust and soils (S/Cl = 3.7 ± 0.7). Fe is also elevated ~25% over average Mars soils and the bulk crust. These enrichments link air fall dust with the S-, Cl-, and Fe-rich X-ray amorphous component of Gale Crater soil. Dust and soil have the same S/Cl, constraining the surface concentrations of S and Cl on a global scale.",

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author = "Berger, {Jeff A.} and Schmidt, {Mariek E.} and Ralf Gellert and Campbell, {John L.} and King, {Penelope L.} and Flemming, {Roberta L.} and Ming, {Douglas W.} and Clark, {Benton C.} and Irina Pradler and Vanbommel, {Scott J.V.} and Minitti, {Michelle E.} and Fair{\'e}n, {Alberto G.} and Boyd, {Nicholas I.} and Thompson, {Lucy M.} and Perrett, {Glynis M.} and Elliott, {Beverley E.} and Elstan Desouza",

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Berger, JA, Schmidt, ME, Gellert, R, Campbell, JL, King, PL, Flemming, RL, Ming, DW, Clark, BC, Pradler, I, Vanbommel, SJV, Minitti, ME, Fairén, AG, Boyd, NI, Thompson, LM, Perrett, GM, Elliott, BE & Desouza, E 2016, 'A global Mars dust composition refined by the Alpha-Particle X-ray Spectrometer in Gale Crater', Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 67-75. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066675

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T1 - A global Mars dust composition refined by the Alpha-Particle X-ray Spectrometer in Gale Crater

AU - Berger, Jeff A.

AU - Schmidt, Mariek E.

AU - Gellert, Ralf

AU - Campbell, John L.

AU - King, Penelope L.

AU - Flemming, Roberta L.

AU - Ming, Douglas W.

AU - Clark, Benton C.

AU - Pradler, Irina

AU - Vanbommel, Scott J.V.

AU - Minitti, Michelle E.

AU - Fairén, Alberto G.

AU - Boyd, Nicholas I.

AU - Thompson, Lucy M.

AU - Perrett, Glynis M.

AU - Elliott, Beverley E.

AU - Desouza, Elstan

PY - 2016/1/16

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N2 - Modern Martian dust is similar in composition to the global soil unit and bulk basaltic Mars crust, but it is enriched in S and Cl. The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover analyzed air fall dust on the science observation tray (o-tray) in Gale Crater to determine dust oxide compositions. The o-tray dust has the highest concentrations of SO3 and Cl measured in Mars dust (SO3 8.3%; Cl 1.1 wt %). The molar S/Cl in the dust (3.35 ± 0.34) is consistent with previous studies of Martian dust and soils (S/Cl = 3.7 ± 0.7). Fe is also elevated ~25% over average Mars soils and the bulk crust. These enrichments link air fall dust with the S-, Cl-, and Fe-rich X-ray amorphous component of Gale Crater soil. Dust and soil have the same S/Cl, constraining the surface concentrations of S and Cl on a global scale.

AB - Modern Martian dust is similar in composition to the global soil unit and bulk basaltic Mars crust, but it is enriched in S and Cl. The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover analyzed air fall dust on the science observation tray (o-tray) in Gale Crater to determine dust oxide compositions. The o-tray dust has the highest concentrations of SO3 and Cl measured in Mars dust (SO3 8.3%; Cl 1.1 wt %). The molar S/Cl in the dust (3.35 ± 0.34) is consistent with previous studies of Martian dust and soils (S/Cl = 3.7 ± 0.7). Fe is also elevated ~25% over average Mars soils and the bulk crust. These enrichments link air fall dust with the S-, Cl-, and Fe-rich X-ray amorphous component of Gale Crater soil. Dust and soil have the same S/Cl, constraining the surface concentrations of S and Cl on a global scale.

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KW - Mars surface S/Cl

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JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

IS - 1

ER -

A global Mars dust composition refined by the Alpha-Particle X-ray Spectrometer in Gale Crater

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