QUESTION:
What are some good references about Mars soil mechanics and geology?
 
ANSWER from Mike Mellon on January 30, 1998:
I can suggest some references for Mars that would provide a good starting
point. Note that there is a large body of Mars literature and so I can't
give a complete list by any means.

General books about Mars, including the geology:

- Carr, M. H., The surface of Mars, Yale University Press, 1981.
- Kieffer, H. H., et al., eds., Mars, University of Arizona Press, 1992.

Articles that may provide useful information:

- Arvidson, R. E., et al., The martian surface as imaged, sampled, and 
  analyzed by the Viking landers, Reviews in Geophysics and Space Physics,
  vol 27, pp 39-60, 1989.
- Moore, H. J., et al., A summary of Viking sample trench analyses for 
  angles of internal friction and cohesions, Journal of Geophysical
  Research, vol 87, pp 10043-10050, 1982.

A collection of papers for Pathfinder preliminary results can be found 
in a recent issue of the journal "Science", vol 278, 5 December 1997.
Keep in mind that these results are preliminary and it will take 
years to fully sort through the data.

These books and journal articles are a bit on the technical side might 
best be located at a university library or through a community library
by interlibrary loan. The books and recent Science issue would also be
available for purchase through a books store or the publisher directly.
The library will be the least costly.

                          - Mike Mellon