The results so far all seem to be consistent with polar wander as well. Both rovers have landed on previous pole positions. If these poles were at a time when the air presure was low then there wouldn't have been water and the cold trap would have built up layers of olivine dust. In fact the soil would have to be very fine since nothing large could be transported to the poles by dust storms.
When the pole moved on layers of dust and ice would have sublimated leaving fine soil and some layers from that time. This also explains the high ice content in the soil and the olivine on top.
VM would have begun to form when there was a pole there, which would explain all the fluid channels through it to Xanthe Terra, etc. As Tharsis grew it moved to the equator pushing the pole eastward. The pole left the area leaving it dry as VM expanded so new olivine was exposed and not affected by water.
Space/Science » in reply to Olivine postdates wet Mars?
re: Olivine postdates wet Mars?
The whole thread (51 posts)
- Will Life Be Found On Mars? Your opinions and guesses:
- Dear friends, thanks for the vigorous discussion. I love it when I start a thread and there are many differing responses. David. (n/t)
- hmmm
- The Martian Race by Greg Benford
- For former life, I'd bet on Venus first
- 50-50
- Yes
- Well
- I follow Lovelock: Equilibrium = Death
- Possibly extremophiles under the surface
- re: Will Life Be Found On Mars? Your opinions and guesses: