Joshua L. Bandfield

Global mineral distributions on Mars

[1]xa0Determining the mineralogy of Mars is an essential part of revealing the conditions of the surface and subsurface. A deconvolution method was used to remove atmospheric components and determine surface mineralogy from Thermal Emission Spectrometer data at 1 pixel per degree (ppd). Minerals are grouped into categories on the basis of compositional and spectral similarity, and global concentration maps are produced. All binned pixels are fit well with RMS errors of ≤0.005 in emissivity. Higher RMS errors are attributed to short wavelength particle size effects on dust-covered surfaces. Significant concentrations (>0.10) of plagioclase, high-Ca pyroxene, sheet silicates/high-Si glass, and hematite are detected and display distributions consistent with previous studies. Elevated concentrations of plagioclase and high-Ca pyroxene are consistent with basaltic surfaces and are located in low-albedo highlands regions north of ∼45°S. Significant concentrations of plagioclase and sheet silicates/high-Si glass and low concentrations of high-Ca pyroxenes are consistent with andesitic surfaces and are concentrated in both southern and northern high-latitude, low-albedo regions. Andesitic surfaces in the southern hemisphere have a lower spectral contrast than northern surfaces. An isolated surface located in Solis Planum is spectrally distinct but compositionally similar to other surfaces interpreted to be andesitic in composition. Concentrations of olivine below the detection limit correctly identify its presence in two of three locations. Potassium feldspar, low-Ca pyroxene, basaltic glass, olivine, sulfate, carbonate, quartz, and amphibole are not detected with confidence at 1 ppd. The results presented here indicate a predominance of volcanic compositions within Martian dust-free surfaces.

Spectroscopic study of the Moses Lake dune field, Washington: Determination of compositional distributions and source lithologies

[1]xa0Source lithologies and transport histories of materials within the Ephrata Fan are investigated. Data were collected using a variety of remote-sensing, laboratory spectroscopic, and field observations and techniques. Laboratory thermal emission spectra were collected of bedrock within the Grand Coulee, dune samples, and clast deposits. Factor analysis, target transformation, and end-member recovery techniques were applied to the set of dune samples as well as a set of grain size fractions. The dune sample spectra are composed of three components that represent basalt, granodiorite, and clay compositions. The basalt and granodiorite components are similar to spectra of clast and bedrock samples from the Grand Coulee and the Ephrata Fan. The clay component is similar to weathering surfaces located within the dune field. The same components were recovered from the set of grain size fractions from a single dune sample demonstrating a relatively higher basalt concentration with grain sizes greater than ∼250 μm. Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) data display significant intradune compositional variation and no discernable interdune compositional variation, indicating that the basalt and granodiorite components were likely deposited simultaneously and subsequently separated by wind based on grain size. Basalt and granodiorite bedrock units within the Channeled Scablands are source materials for the deposits within the Ephrata Fan and Moses Lake dune field. The Columbia River, located 20 km west of the dune field, is not a likely source of material.