Quantification of Meteorite Infall Rates from Accumulations in Deserts, and Meteorite Accumulations on Mars

Abstract

. Finally, I consider the possibility of meteorite accumulations on other planets: modelling single-body meteoroid atmospheric entry speeds at Mars and the effect of drag and ablation, indicates a narrow range of small masses (10-50 grams) which should impact Mars at survivable speeds. The rate of oxidative weathering is much lower than that on Earth, so this small flux of meteorites could give rise to 1 significant accumulations: 2 x 102 - 2 x 105 meteorites greater than 10 grams in mass per km2. Given these numbers, future sample-return missions should consider the real possibility that they may recover meteoritic material. Due to the low weathering rate, meteorites may survive on the surface of Mars for over 109 years, preserving a record of the temporal variability of the meteoroid flux, and the compositional evolution of the meteoroid complex. 2