Global Mineralogical and Aqueous Mars History Derived from OMEGA/Mars Express Data

Jean‐Pierre Bibring(Brown University), Yves Langevin(Brown University), John F. Mustard(Brown University), F. Poulet(Brown University), R. E. Arvidson(Washington University in St. Louis), A. Gendrin(Brown University), B. Gondet(Brown University), N. Mangold(Brown University), P. Pinet(Brown University), F. Forget(Brown University), Michel Berthé(Brown University), Jean‐Pierre Bibring(Brown University), A. Gendrin(Brown University), Cécile Gomez(Brown University), B. Gondet(Brown University), D. Jouglet(Brown University), F. Poulet(Brown University), A. Soufflot(Brown University), M. Vincendon(Brown University), M. Combes(Brown University), P. Drossart(Brown University), Thérèse Encrenaz(Brown University), Thierry Fouchet(Brown University), Riccardo Merchiorri(Brown University), G. Belluci(Brown University), Francesca Altieri(Brown University), V. Formisano(Brown University), F. Capaccioni(Brown University), P. Cerroni(Brown University), A. Coradini(Brown University), S. Fonti(Brown University), Oleg Korablev(Brown University), V. A. Kottsov(Brown University), N. Ignatiev(Brown University), В. І. Мороз(Brown University), Dimitri Titov(Brown University), Ludmilla Zasova(Brown University), Damien Loiseau(Brown University), N. Mangold(Brown University), P. Pinet(Brown University), S. Douté(Brown University), B. Schmitt(Brown University), C. Sotin(Brown University), Ernst Hauber(Brown University), H. Hoffmann(Brown University), R. Jaumann(Brown University), U. Keller(Brown University), Ray Arvidson(Washington University in St. Louis), John F. Mustard(Brown University), T. C. Duxbury(Brown University), F. Forget(Brown University), G. Neukum(Brown University)
Science
April 21, 2006
10.1126/science.1122659
Cited by 1,611

Abstract

Global mineralogical mapping of Mars by the Observatoire pour la Mineralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité (OMEGA) instrument on the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft provides new information on Mars' geological and climatic history. Phyllosilicates formed by aqueous alteration very early in the planet's history (the "phyllocian" era) are found in the oldest terrains; sulfates were formed in a second era (the "theiikian" era) in an acidic environment. Beginning about 3.5 billion years ago, the last era (the "siderikian") is dominated by the formation of anhydrous ferric oxides in a slow superficial weathering, without liquid water playing a major role across the planet.

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