A recent study on Mars’s geology causes a paradigm shift to researchers’ perspective of the red planet. Felsic rocks that thought to not exist on Mars are now identified. Overall, these findings alter the understanding of the geologic complexity and magmatic activity of Mars.
Prior knowledge of Mars’s geology was rather simple; consisting of one type of rock formation in contrast to Earth’s diverse and complex geology. Felsic rocks such as granite, are common in subduction zones on Earth (Wray et al., 2013, 1013). However, in Mars, felsic rocks are nonexistent and only contain mafic rocks. Researcher James Wray et al., (2013) argued that due to the lack evidence of plate tectonics and early forms of magma have been altered by natural causes or buried subsequently, felsic rocks were never present on Mars. …show more content…
Since Mars is much distant from Earth, observations are done through the use of thermal infrared spectroscopy of THEMIS and Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) which aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (Wray et al., 2013, 1013). CRISM absorbs infrared wavelengths that reflect on the planet’s surface detecting rock compositions. Although Mars was said to have no felsic rock formation, CRISM detected areas where felsic rocks are present, despite the difficulty to identify legitimate materials that can be considered as
Prior knowledge of Mars’s geology was rather simple; consisting of one type of rock formation in contrast to Earth’s diverse and complex geology. Felsic rocks such as granite, are common in subduction zones on Earth (Wray et al., 2013, 1013). However, in Mars, felsic rocks are nonexistent and only contain mafic rocks. Researcher James Wray et al., (2013) argued that due to the lack evidence of plate tectonics and early forms of magma have been altered by natural causes or buried subsequently, felsic rocks were never present on Mars. …show more content…
Since Mars is much distant from Earth, observations are done through the use of thermal infrared spectroscopy of THEMIS and Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) which aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (Wray et al., 2013, 1013). CRISM absorbs infrared wavelengths that reflect on the planet’s surface detecting rock compositions. Although Mars was said to have no felsic rock formation, CRISM detected areas where felsic rocks are present, despite the difficulty to identify legitimate materials that can be considered as