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Cohen BA, Malespin CA, Farley KA, Martin PE, Cho Y, Mahaffy PR. In Situ Geochronology on Mars and the Development of Future Instrumentation. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:1303-1314. [PMID: 31361510 PMCID: PMC6818483 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We review the in situ geochronology experiments conducted by the Mars Science Laboratory mission's Curiosity rover to understand when the Gale Crater rocks formed, underwent alteration, and became exposed to cosmogenic radiation. These experiments determined that the detrital minerals in the sedimentary rocks of Gale are ∼4 Ga, consistent with their origin in the basalts surrounding the crater. The sedimentary rocks underwent fluid-moderated alteration 2 Gyr later, which may mark the closure of aqueous activity at Gale Crater. Over the past several million years, wind-driven processes have dominated, denuding the surfaces by scarp retreat. The Curiosity measurements validate radiometric dating techniques on Mars and guide the way for future instrumentation to make more precise measurements that will further our understanding of the geological and astrobiological history of the planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara A. Cohen
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
| | - Charles A. Malespin
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
| | - Kenneth A. Farley
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Peter E. Martin
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Yuichiro Cho
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
| | - Paul R. Mahaffy
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
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Dartnell LR, Storrie-Lombardi MC, Mullineaux CW, Ruban AV, Wright G, Griffiths AD, Muller JP, Ward JM. Degradation of cyanobacterial biosignatures by ionizing radiation. ASTROBIOLOGY 2011; 11:997-1016. [PMID: 22149884 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2011.0663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Primitive photosynthetic microorganisms, either dormant or dead, may remain today on the martian surface, akin to terrestrial cyanobacteria surviving endolithically in martian analog sites on Earth such as the Antarctic Dry Valleys and the Atacama Desert. Potential markers of martian photoautotrophs include the red edge of chlorophyll reflectance spectra or fluorescence emission from systems of light-harvesting pigments. Such biosignatures, however, would be modified and degraded by long-term exposure to ionizing radiation from the unshielded cosmic ray flux onto the martian surface. In this initial study into this issue, three analytical techniques--absorbance, reflectance, and fluorescence spectroscopy--were employed to determine the progression of the radiolytic destruction of cyanobacteria. The pattern of signal loss for chlorophyll reflection and fluorescence from several biomolecules is characterized and quantified after increasing exposures to ionizing gamma radiation. This allows estimation of the degradation rates of cyanobacterial biosignatures on the martian surface and the identification of promising detectable fluorescent break-down products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis R Dartnell
- UCL Institute for Origins, University College London, London, UK.
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Fairén AG, Davila AF, Lim D, Bramall N, Bonaccorsi R, Zavaleta J, Uceda ER, Stoker C, Wierzchos J, Dohm JM, Amils R, Andersen D, McKay CP. Astrobiology through the ages of Mars: the study of terrestrial analogues to understand the habitability of Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2010; 10:821-843. [PMID: 21087162 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2009.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Mars has undergone three main climatic stages throughout its geological history, beginning with a water-rich epoch, followed by a cold and semi-arid era, and transitioning into present-day arid and very cold desert conditions. These global climatic eras also represent three different stages of planetary habitability: an early, potentially habitable stage when the basic requisites for life as we know it were present (liquid water and energy); an intermediate extreme stage, when liquid solutions became scarce or very challenging for life; and the most recent stage during which conditions on the surface have been largely uninhabitable, except perhaps in some isolated niches. Our understanding of the evolution of Mars is now sufficient to assign specific terrestrial environments to each of these periods. Through the study of Mars terrestrial analogues, we have assessed and constrained the habitability conditions for each of these stages, the geochemistry of the surface, and the likelihood for the preservation of organic and inorganic biosignatures. The study of these analog environments provides important information to better understand past and current mission results as well as to support the design and selection of instruments and the planning for future exploratory missions to Mars.
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McKeever S, Blair M, Yukihara E, DeWitt R. The effects of low ambient temperatures on optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) processes: Relevance to OSL dating of martian sediments. RADIAT MEAS 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2009.11.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Poolton NRJ, Kars RH, Wallinga J, Bos AJJ. Direct evidence for the participation of band-tails and excited-state tunnelling in the luminescence of irradiated feldspars. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2009; 21:485505. [PMID: 21832524 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/21/48/485505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The significance and extent of band-tail states in the luminescence and dosimetry properties of natural aluminosilicates (feldspars) is investigated by means of studies using low temperature (10 K) irradiation and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) stimulation spectroscopy, and thermoluminescence (TL) in the range 10-200 K, made in comparison with high temperature (300 K) irradiation and photo-transferred OSL and TL investigations undertaken at low temperature. These measurements allow mappings of the band-tails to be made; they are found to be ∼0.4 eV in extent in the typical materials studied. Furthermore, by populating charge trapping centres at high temperature (300 K) and monitoring the OSL stimulation spectra at temperatures in the range 10-300 K, clear evidence is presented for the presence of both thermally activated and non-thermally activated OSL processes; it is argued that the former result from thermally activated hopping through the band-tail states, whilst the latter are due to tunnelling processes, either from the excited state of the OSL centres or through the tail states. The spectral measurements are supported by analysis of the temporal dependence of the OSL signals, which correspond to either tunnelling or general order kinetic decay processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N R J Poolton
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands. Institute of Mathematics and Physics, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3BZ, UK
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Lepper K. The effect of evaporated salt solutions on the optical dating properties of JSC Mars-1: "seasoning" for a Mars soil simulant. ASTROBIOLOGY 2009; 9:531-534. [PMID: 19586394 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2008.0307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Optically stimulated luminescence dating, or optical dating, is an established terrestrial geochronometric technique that is being adapted to date sedimentary deposits and landforms on the surface of Mars. Recent discoveries have highlighted the astrobiological significance and occurrence of halite on the surface of Mars. The objective of the experiments in this study was to create a simplistic analogue of the sedimentary material that would result from evaporation of ion-containing pore water out of martian regolith and evaluate the influence the evaporated salts would have on in situ optical dating of silicate sediments. The radiation dose response, as measured by infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL), from evaporated mixtures of JSC Mars-1 and solutions of sodium chloride and calcium sulfate was documented. The results suggest that the presence of CaSO(4) and NaCl within the aggregated particles does not have adverse effects on IRSL dose response and that aggregates of this type exhibit dose response characteristics that are appropriate for optical dating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Lepper
- Optical Dating and Dosimetry Lab, Department of Geosciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58105, USA.
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Tsukamoto S, Duller G. Anomalous fading of various luminescence signals from terrestrial basaltic samples as Martian analogues. RADIAT MEAS 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2007.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Banerjee D, Dewangan A. Simulation of the cosmic-ray induced dose-rate within a Martian soil profile. RADIAT MEAS 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2008.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Morthekai P, Jain M, Murray A, Thomsen K, Bøtter-Jensen L. Fading characteristics of martian analogue materials and the applicability of a correction procedure. RADIAT MEAS 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2008.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Developing luminescence dating for extraterrestrial applications: Characterization of martian simulants and minerals. RADIAT MEAS 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2007.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Jain M, Andersen C, Bøtter-Jensen L, Murray A, Haack H, Bridges J. Luminescence dating on Mars: OSL characteristics of Martian analogue materials and GCR dosimetry. RADIAT MEAS 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2006.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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McKeever SW, Kalchgruber R, Blair MW, Deo S. Development of methods for in situ dating of martian sediments. RADIAT MEAS 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2006.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Kalchgruber R, Blair M, McKeever S. Dose recovery with plagioclase and pyroxene samples as surrogates for Martian surface sediments. RADIAT MEAS 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2005.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Blair MW, Yukihara EG, McKeever SWS. A system to irradiate and measure luminescence at low temperatures. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2006; 119:454-7. [PMID: 16735565 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/nci619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a system to irradiate samples and record radioluminescence (RL), optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and thermoluminescence (TL) at temperatures ranging from -150 degrees C to 200 degrees C. The system consists of a cryostat, an irradiation/stimulation unit fitted with an X-ray tube (40 kV Moxtek) and a quartz window for optical stimulation, and a detection unit that utilises a photomultiplier tube and an interchangeable filter pack. Experiments have been conducted with quartz and albite (a feldspar). TL and OSL experiments show that several optically sensitive trapping states are stable below -50 degrees C. In addition, an increase in OSL is seen as the OSL stimulation temperature is lowered below -50 degrees C, and an increase in RL is apparent as the temperature is lowered during irradiation. This indicates that not only are optically sensitive low temperature traps present but that luminescence becomes more efficient at low temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- M W Blair
- Oklahoma State University, Physics Department, 145 PS II, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
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