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Varekamp 2004
Varekamp, J.C. (2004). Copahue volcano: A modern terrestrial analog for the opportunity landing site?. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union 85: doi: 10.1029/2004EO410002. issn: 0096-3941.

The Opportunity Rover on Mars encountered an environment that contained grey hematite (specularite) and jarosite, with structures indicative of flowing water. Less firm evidence suggests the presence of gypsum as well, and the environment is overall rich in S, Cl, and Br (NASA news releases, 2004). Such a suite of minerals may form from an iron- and sulfate-rich brine, either through evaporation, cooling or changes in redox conditions (see Hynek et al. <2002> and Christensen et al. <2001>, for a discussion of the extent and possible origins of the Mars hematite deposits). On Earth, such an association of minerals is not very common, but is found in alteration zones with fumarolic activity in some volcanic craters. The condensation or dissolution in meteoric waters of S-rich volcanic gases creates acid fluids in the surficial environment that leach rock-forming elements (RFEs) from the surrounding rocks, forming large, bleached areas of mineralizations of hematite, cristobalite, and gypsum, occasionally with zones rich in alunite or jarosite.

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Abstract

Keywords
Planetology, Solar System Objects, Mars
Journal
Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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