Mars atlas resources

From Marspedia
Revision as of 08:04, 19 October 2024 by RichardWSmith (talk | contribs) (Give more information about the gamma ray spectrometer)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
Mars topography (MOLA dataset) HiRes (1).jpg

Some Resources on Mars have been mapped using the gamma ray spectrometer instrument of Mars Odyssey[1]. Cosmic rays activate atoms on the surface, which emit gamma rays at specific frequencies based on the element. This instrument detects surface deposits, and does not show deeper ore bodies.

Using the radiation signatures of elements with radioactive isotopes, maps of surface abundance of water (Hydrogen), Thorium, Chlorine, Iron, Silicon, Potassium have been made.

Water concentrations in polar latitudes are much higher.

Water abundance. %weight. From hydrogen abundance data.


Thorium abundance in ppm (parts per million)
Chlorine abundance. % weight
Iron abundance %weight
Silicon abundance %weight
Potassium abundance %weight

References