Engineering topics

Schiffman, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Schiffman, P..

5 records

NASA NTRS2004

Cemented Volcanic Soils, Martian Spectra and Implications for the Martian Climate

Cemented soils formed via reactions with salts are studied here and provide information about the climate when they formed. Spectroscopic and microprobe studies have been performed on cemented volcanic crusts in order to learn about the composition of these materials, how they formed, and what they can tell us about climatic interactions with surface material on Mars to form cemented soils. These crusts include carbonate, sulfate and opaline components that may all be present in cemented soil units on Mars.

Bishop, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Classifying Terrestrial Volcanic Alteration Processes and Defining Alteration Processes they Represent on Mars

Characterizing alteration of the rocks on Mars is difficult, but some guidelines can be made through comparison with terrestrial volcanic alteration. Subaerial volcanic activity on the Hawaiian islands and subglacial volcanic activity on Iceland have led to the formation of a variety of silicate and iron oxide-rich alteration products that may serve as models for chemical alteration on Mars. Multiple samples have been collected from palagonitized tuffs, altered pillow lavas, altered tephra, and S-rich vents for study in the lab. Variations in the kinds of alteration products have been observed depending on the sample environment. We are defining associations between the alteration products and formation conditions that can be used to provide information about environmental conditions on Mars. In particular, we are providing definitions for palagonitic, pedogenic and solfataric alteration that can be used to characterize these alteration processes.

Bishop, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Iceland as a Model for Chemical Alteration on Mars

Subglacial volcanic activity on Iceland has led to the formation of a variety of silicate and iron oxide-rich alteration products that may serve as a model for chemical alteration on Mars. Multiple palagonitic tuffs, altered pillow lavas, hydrothermal springs and alteration at glacial run-off streams were observed during a recent field trip in Iceland. Formation of alteration products and ferrihydrite in similar environments on Mars may have contributed to the ferric oxide-rich surface material there. The spectral and chemical properties of Icelandic alteration products and ferrihydrites are presented here.

Bishop, Janice L.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Iceland as a Model for Chemical Alteration on Mars

Subglacial volcanic activity on Iceland has led to the formation of a variety of silicate and iron oxide-rich alteration products that may ressemble chemical alteration on Mars. The spectral and chemical properties of Icelandic samples are presented. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Bishop, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Geochemical and Mineralogical Analyses of Palagonitic Tuffs and Altered Rinds of Pillow Lavas on Iceland and Applications to Mars

Samples of altered pillow lavas and hyalotuffs were collected from a volcanic Tuya and hyaloclastite ridge in western Iceland. Altered basaltic material from regions such as Hloudufell Tuya and Thorolfsfell Ridge may be similar to the surface fines on Mars, which are thought to contain altered basaltic components as well. Geochemical and mineralogical analyses have been performed on the Icelandic samples in order to characterize the properties that distinguish palagonitization from other forms of low temperature alteration in this environment. Major elements were measured using an electron microprobe and mineralogy was determined through X-ray diffraction and visible- infrared reflectance spectroscopy. The primary focus in this study was on the less than 2 microns size fractions of the Hloudufell altered pillow and Thorolfsfell palagonitic tuff samples. The palagonitic tuff contained more crystalline clay minerals and has a higher Al/Fe ratio. The altered pillow lava contained higher abundances of nanophase iron oxides/oxyhydroxides. The extended visible region spectra of the less than 2 microns fractions of both Icelandic samples are similar to bright Martian soils measured by Pathfinder.

Bishop, Janice↗