Meteorites on Mars observed with the Mars Exploration Rovers

  1. C. Schröder1,
  2. D. S. Rodionov2,17,
  3. T. J. McCoy3,
  4. B. L. Jolliff4,
  5. R. Gellert5,
  6. L. R. Nittler6,
  7. W. H. Farrand7,
  8. J. R. Johnson8,
  9. S. W. Ruff9,
  10. J. W. Ashley9,
  11. D. W. Mittlefehldt1,
  12. K. E. Herkenhoff8,
  13. I. Fleischer2,
  14. A. F. C. Haldemann10,
  15. G. Klingelhöfer2,
  16. D. W. Ming1,
  17. R. V. Morris1,
  18. P. A. de Souza Jr.11,18,
  19. S. W. Squyres12,
  20. C. Weitz13,
  21. A. S. Yen14,
  22. J. Zipfel15,
  23. T. Economou16

Article first published online: 18 APR 2008

DOI: 10.1029/2007JE002990

Issue

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (1991–2012)

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (1991–2012)

Additional Information

How to Cite

Schröder, C., et al. (2008), Meteorites on Mars observed with the Mars Exploration Rovers, J. Geophys. Res., 113, E06S22, doi:10.1029/2007JE002990.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA

  2. 2

    Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany

  3. 3

    National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., USA

  4. 4

    Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

  5. 5

    Department of Physics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

  6. 6

    Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D. C., USA

  7. 7

    Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colorado, USA

  8. 8

    U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

  9. 9

    School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA

  10. 10

    ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

  11. 11

    Vallourec Research Center, Aulnoye-Aymeries, France

  12. 12

    Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

  13. 13

    Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona, USA

  14. 14

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

  15. 15

    Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

  16. 16

    Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

  17. 17

    Also at Space Research Institute IKI, Moscow, Russia.

  18. 18

    Also at Tasmanian ICT Centre, CSIRO, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 APR 2008
  2. Article first published online: 18 APR 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 21 DEC 2007
  4. Manuscript Revised: 9 NOV 2007
  5. Manuscript Received: 14 AUG 2007

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Keywords:

  • Mars Exploration Rover;
  • meteorite accumulation on Mars;
  • impact cratering

[1] Reduced weathering rates due to the lack of liquid water and significantly greater typical surface ages should result in a higher density of meteorites on the surface of Mars compared to Earth. Several meteorites were identified among the rocks investigated during Opportunity's traverse across the sandy Meridiani plains. Heat Shield Rock is a IAB iron meteorite and has been officially recognized as “Meridiani Planum.” Barberton is olivine-rich and contains metallic Fe in the form of kamacite, suggesting a meteoritic origin. It is chemically most consistent with a mesosiderite silicate clast. Santa Catarina is a brecciated rock with a chemical and mineralogical composition similar to Barberton. Barberton, Santa Catarina, and cobbles adjacent to Santa Catarina may be part of a strewn field. Spirit observed two probable iron meteorites from its Winter Haven location in the Columbia Hills in Gusev Crater. Chondrites have not been identified to date, which may be a result of their lower strengths and probability to survive impact at current atmospheric pressures. Impact craters directly associated with Heat Shield Rock, Barberton, or Santa Catarina have not been observed, but such craters could have been erased by eolian-driven erosion.

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