Characterization of the Martian Surface Deposits by the Mars Pathfinder Rover, Sojourner

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 278; no. 5344; pp. 1765 - 1768
• Main Author: Team, Rover
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 05.12.1997; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Conglomerates; Cosmochemistry. Extraterrestrial geology; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Excavations; Extraterrestrial geology; Floods; Geology; Mars; Mars (Planet); Mars Pathfinder; Natural history; Pebbles; Planets; Rocks; Sand; Shear stress; Silts; Soils; Space exploration; Stone; Wheels; stream transport; floods; landing sites; pebbles; boulders; rounding; weathering; conglomerate; terrestrial comparison; sedimentary rocks; Mars; soil mechanics; fluvial sedimentation; imagery; soils; dust; clastic rocks
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5344.1765

Sojourner, the Mars Pathfinder rover, discovered pebbles on the surface and in rocks that may be sedimentary-not volcanic-in origin. Surface pebbles may have been rounded by Ares flood waters or liberated by weathering of sedimentary rocks called conglomerates. Conglomerates imply that water existed elsewhere and earlier than the Ares flood. Most soil-like deposits are similar to moderately dense soils on Earth. Small amounts of dust are currently settling from the atmosphere.