Soil Diversity and Hydration as Observed by ChemCam at Gale Crater, Mars
Authors: Meslin P.-Y. , Gasnault O. , Forni O. , Schröder S. , Cousin A. , Berger G. , Clegg S. M. , Lasue J. , Maurice S. , Sautter V. , Le Mouélic S. , Wiens R. C. , Fabre C. , Goetz W. , Bish D. , Mangold N. , Ehlmann B. , Lanza N. , Harri A.-M. , Anderson R. , Rampe E. , McConnochie T. H. , Pinet P. , Blaney D. , Léveillé R. , Archer D. , Barraclough B. , Bender S. , Blake D. , Blank J. G. , Bridges N. , Clark B. C. , DeFlores L. , Delapp D. , Dromart G. , Dyar M. D. , Fisk M. , Gondet B. , Grotzinger J. , Herkenhoff K. , Johnson J. , Lacour J.-L. , Langevin Y. , Leshin L. , Lewin E. , Madsen M. B. , Melikechi N. , Mezzacappa A. , Mischna M. A. , Moores J. E. , Newsom H. , Ollila A. , Perez R. , Renno N. , Sirven J.-B. , Tokar R. , de la Torre M. , d’Uston L. , Vaniman D. , Yingst A. ,   MSL Science Team, Kemppinen Osku , Minitti Michelle , Cremers David , Bell James F. , Edgar Lauren , Farmer Jack , Godber Austin , Wadhwa Meenakshi , Wellington Danika , McEwan Ian , Newman Claire , Richardson Mark , Charpentier Antoine , Peret Laurent , King Penelope , Weigle Gerald , Schmidt Mariek , Li Shuai , Milliken Ralph , Robertson Kevin , Sun Vivian , Baker Michael , Edwards Christopher , Farley Kenneth , Griffes Jennifer , Miller Hayden , Newcombe Megan , Pilorget Cedric , Rice Melissa , Siebach Kirsten , Stack Katie , Stolper Edward , Brunet Claude , Hipkin Victoria , Marchand Geneviève , Sánchez Pablo Sobrón , Favot Laurent , Cody George , Steele Andrew , Flückiger Lorenzo , Lees David , Nefian Ara , Martin Mildred , Gailhanou Marc , Westall Frances , Israël Guy , Agard Christophe , Baroukh Julien , Donny Christophe , Gaboriaud Alain , Guillemot Philippe , Lafaille Vivian , Lorigny Eric , Paillet Alexis , Pérez René , Saccoccio Muriel , Yana Charles , Armiens‐Aparicio Carlos , Rodríguez Javier Caride , Blázquez Isaías Carrasco , Gómez Felipe Gómez , Gómez-Elvira Javier , Hettrich Sebastian , Malvitte Alain Lepinette , Jiménez Mercedes Marín , Martínez-Frías Jesús , Martín-Soler Javier , Martín-Torres F. Javier , Jurado Antonio Molina , Mora-Sotomayor Luis , Caro Guillermo Muñoz , López Sara Navarro , Peinado-González Verónica , Pla-García Jorge , Manfredi José Antonio Rodriguez , Romeral-Planelló Julio José , Fuentes Sara Alejandra Sans , Martinez Eduardo Sebastian , Redondo Josefina Torres , Urqui-O’Callaghan Roser , Mier María-Paz Zorzano , Chipera Steve , Mauchien Patrick , Manning Heidi , Fairén Alberto , Hayes Alexander , Joseph Jonathan , Squyres Steven , Sullivan Robert , Thomas Peter , Dupont Audrey , Lundberg Angela , DeMarines Julia , Grinspoon David , Reitz Günther , Prats Benito , Atlaskin Evgeny , Genzer Maria , Haukka Harri , Kahanpää Henrik , Kauhanen Janne , Kemppinen Osku , Paton Mark , Polkko Jouni , Schmidt Walter , Siili Tero , Wray James , Wilhelm Mary Beth , Poitrasson Franck , Patel Kiran , Gorevan Stephen , Indyk Stephen , Paulsen Gale , Gupta Sanjeev , Schieber Juergen , Geffroy Claude , Baratoux David , Cros Alain , Lee Qiu-Mei , Pallier Etienne , Parot Yann , Toplis Mike , Brunner Will , Heydari Ezat , Achilles Cherie , Oehler Dorothy , Sutter Brad , Cabane Michel , Coscia David , Israël Guy , Szopa Cyril , Robert François , Nachon Marion , Buch Arnaud , Stalport Fabien , Coll Patrice , François Pascaline , Raulin François , Teinturier Samuel , Cameron James , Dingler Robert , Jackson Ryan Steele , Johnstone Stephen , Little Cynthia , Nelson Tony , Williams Richard B. , Jones Andrea , Kirkland Laurel , Treiman Allan , Baker Burt , Cantor Bruce , Caplinger Michael , Davis Scott , Duston Brian , Edgett Kenneth , Fay Donald , Hardgrove Craig , Harker David , Herrera Paul , Jensen Elsa , Kennedy Megan R. , Krezoski Gillian , Krysak Daniel , Lipkaman Leslie , Malin Michael , McCartney Elaina , McNair Sean , Nixon Brian , Posiolova Liliya , Ravine Michael , Salamon Andrew , Saper Lee , Stoiber Kevin , Supulver Kimberley , Van Beek Jason , Van Beek Tessa , Zimdar Robert , French Katherine Louise , Iagnemma Karl , Miller Kristen , Summons Roger , Goesmann Fred , Hviid Stubbe , Johnson Micah , Lefavor Matthew , Lyness Eric , Breves Elly , Fassett Caleb , Bristow Thomas , DesMarais David , Edwards Laurence , Haberle Robert , Hoehler Tori , Hollingsworth Jeff , Kahre Melinda , Keely Leslie , McKay Christopher , Wilhelm Mary Beth , Bleacher Lora , Brinckerhoff William , Choi David , Conrad Pamela , Dworkin Jason P. , Eigenbrode Jennifer , Floyd Melissa , Freissinet Caroline , Garvin James , Glavin Daniel , Harpold Daniel , Jones Andrea , Mahaffy Paul , Martin David K. , McAdam Amy , Pavlov Alexander , Raaen Eric , Smith Michael D. , Stern Jennifer , Tan Florence , Trainer Melissa , Meyer Michael , Posner Arik , Voytek Mary , Anderson Robert C. , Aubrey Andrew , Beegle Luther W. , Behar Alberto , Brinza David , Calef Fred , Christensen Lance , Crisp Joy A. , Feldman Jason , Feldman Sabrina , Flesch Gregory , Hurowitz Joel , Jun Insoo , Keymeulen Didier , Maki Justin , Morookian John Michael , Parker Timothy , Pavri Betina , Schoppers Marcel , Sengstacken Aaron , Simmonds John J. , Spanovich Nicole , Vasavada Ashwin R. , Webster Christopher R. , Yen Albert , Cucinotta Francis , Jones John H. , Ming Douglas , Morris Richard V. , Niles Paul , Nolan Thomas , Radziemski Leon , Berman Daniel , Dobrea Eldar Noe , Williams Rebecca M. E. , Lewis Kevin , Cleghorn Timothy , Huntress Wesley , Manhès Gérard , Hudgins Judy , Olson Timothy , Stewart Noel , Sarrazin Philippe , Grant John , Vicenzi Edward , Wilson Sharon A. , Bullock Mark , Ehresmann Bent , Hamilton Victoria , Hassler Donald , Peterson Joseph , Rafkin Scot , Zeitlin Cary , Fedosov Fedor , Golovin Dmitry , Karpushkina Natalya , Kozyrev Alexander , Litvak Maxim , Malakhov Alexey , Mitrofanov Igor , Mokrousov Maxim , Nikiforov Sergey , Prokhorov Vasily , Sanin Anton , Tretyakov Vladislav , Varenikov Alexey , Vostrukhin Andrey , Kuzmin Ruslan , Wolff Michael , McLennan Scott , Botta Oliver , Drake Darrell , Bean Keri , Lemmon Mark , Schwenzer Susanne P. , Lee Ella Mae , Sucharski Robert , Hernández Miguel Ángel de Pablo , Ávalos Juan José Blanco , Ramos Miguel , Kim Myung-Hee , Malespin Charles , Plante Ianik , Muller Jan-Peter , Navarro-González Rafael , Ewing Ryan , Boynton William , Downs Robert , Fitzgibbon Mike , Harshman Karl , Morrison Shaunna , Dietrich William , Kortmann Onno , Palucis Marisa , Sumner Dawn Y. , Williams Amy , Lugmair Günter , Wilson Michael A. , Rubin David , Jakosky Bruce , Balic-Zunic Tonci , Frydenvang Jens , Jensen Jaqueline Kløvgaard , Kinch Kjartan , Koefoed Asmus , Stipp Susan Louise Svane , Boyd Nick , Campbell John L. , Gellert Ralf , Perrett Glynis , Pradler Irina , VanBommel Scott , Jacob Samantha , Owen Tobias , Rowland Scott , Atlaskin Evgeny , Savijärvi Hannu , Boehm Eckart , Böttcher Stephan , Burmeister Sönke , Guo Jingnan , Köhler Jan , García César Martín , Mueller-Mellin Reinhold , Wimmer-Schweingruber Robert , Bridges John C. , Benna Mehdi , Franz Heather , Bower Hannah , Brunner Anna , Blau Hannah , Boucher Thomas , Carmosino Marco , Atreya Sushil , Elliott Harvey , Halleaux Douglas , Rennó Nilton , Wong Michael , Pepin Robert , Elliott Beverley , Spray John , Thompson Lucy , Gordon Suzanne , Williams Joshua , Vasconcelos Paulo , Bentz Jennifer , Nealson Kenneth , Popa Radu , Kah Linda C. , Moersch Jeffrey , Tate Christopher , Day Mackenzie , Kocurek Gary , Hallet Bernard , Sletten Ronald , Francis Raymond , McCullough Emily , Cloutis Ed , ten Kate Inge Loes , Kuzmin Ruslan , Arvidson Raymond , Fraeman Abigail , Scholes Daniel , Slavney Susan , Stein Thomas , Ward Jennifer , Berger Jeffrey 
Published: September 2013

The ChemCam instrument, which provides insight into martian soil chemistry at the submillimeter scale, identified two principal soil types along the Curiosity rover traverse: a fine-grained mafic type and a locally derived, coarse-grained felsic type. The mafic soil component is representative of widespread martian soils and is similar in composition to the martian dust. It possesses a ubiquitous hydrogen signature in ChemCam spectra, corresponding to the hydration of the amorphous phases found in the soil by the CheMin instrument. This hydration likely accounts for an important fraction of the global hydration of the surface seen by previous orbital measurements. ChemCam analyses did not reveal any significant exchange of water vapor between the regolith and the atmosphere. These observations provide constraints on the nature of the amorphous phases and their hydration.