Water-Based Alteration of the Martian Meteorite, QUE94201, By Sulfate-Dominated Solutions
Abstract
The martian meteorite, QUE94201, contains substantial deposits of sulfate minerals at the scales of tens of micrometers and smaller. On the fusion crust, vugs contain mixtures of separate Ca- and Fe-sulfate phases as well as aluminosilicate clays and secondary silica. In the interior, Ca- and Fe-sulfates occur together along with gel-textured Fe-sulfate/phosphate; carbonates are rare or absent. The salt textures suggest origin from low-temperature, oxidizing solutions, perhaps transitional to colloidal suspensions, that were strongly dominated by sulfate with relatively little carbonate. Distinction of Antarctic from martian alteration effects requires further analysis of textural relationships among fusion crust, mineralized vugs and veins.
- Publication:
-
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
- Pub Date:
- March 1996
- Bibcode:
- 1996LPI....27.1421W
- Keywords:
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- ALTERATION: AQUEOUS;
- METEORITES: MARTIAN;
- SHERGOTTITE;
- WEATHERING