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Andreae MO, Andreae TW. Archaeometric studies on rock art at four sites in the northeastern Great Basin of North America. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263189. [PMID: 35081173 PMCID: PMC8791535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rock art originated some 46,000 years ago and can provide unique insights into the minds of our human ancestors. However, dating of these ancient images, especially of petroglyphs, remains a challenge. In this study, we explore the potential of deriving age estimates from measurements of the areal densities of manganese (DMn) and iron (DFe) in the rock varnish on petroglyphs, based on the concept that the amount of varnish that has regrown on a petroglyph since its creation, relative to the surrounding intact varnish, is a measure of its age. We measured DMn and DFe by portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) on dated Late Pleistocene and Holocene rock surfaces, from which we derived accumulation rates of Mn and Fe in the rock varnish. The observed rates were comparable to our previous findings on basalt surfaces in North America. We derived age estimates for the rock art at four sites in the northern Great Basin region of North America based on DMn measurements on the petroglyphs and intact varnish. They suggest that rock art creation in this region began around the Pleistocene/Holocene transition and continued into the Historic Period, encompassing a wide range of styles and motifs. Evidence of reworking of the rock art at various times by Indigenous people speaks of the continued agency of these images through the millennia. Our results are in good agreement with chronologies based on archeological and other archaeometric techniques. While our method remains subject to significant uncertainty with regard to the absolute ages of individual images, it provides the unique opportunity to obtain age estimates for large ensembles of images without the need for destructive sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meinrat O. Andreae
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Andreae MO, Al-Amri A, Andreae TW, Garfinkel A, Haug G, Jochum KP, Stoll B, Weis U. Geochemical studies on rock varnish and petroglyphs in the Owens and Rose Valleys, California. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235421. [PMID: 32756552 PMCID: PMC7405993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated rock varnish, a thin, manganese- and iron-rich, dark surface crust, on basaltic lava flows and petroglyphs in the Owens and Rose Valleys (California) by portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and femtosecond laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (fs-LA-ICPMS). The major element composition of the varnish was consistent with a mixture of Mn-Fe oxyhydroxides and clay minerals. As expected, it contained elevated concentrations of elements that are typically enriched in rock varnish, e.g., Mn, Pb, Ba, Ce, and Co, but also showed unusually high enrichments in U, Cu, and Th. The rare earth and yttrium (REY) enrichment pattern revealed a very strong positive cerium (Ce) anomaly and distinct negative europium (Eu) and Y anomalies. The light rare earth elements (REE) were much more strongly enriched than the heavy REY. These enrichment patterns are consistent with a formation mechanism by leaching of Mn and trace elements from aeolian dust, reprecipitation of Mn and Fe as oxyhydroxides, and scavenging of trace elements by these oxyhydroxides. We inferred accumulation rates of Mn and Fe in the varnish from their areal densities measured by pXRF and the known ages of some of the lava flow surfaces. The areal densities of Mn and Fe, as well as their accumulation rates, were comparable to our previous results from the desert of Saudi Arabia. There was a moderate dependence of the Mn areal density on the inclination of the rock surfaces, but no relationship to its cardinal orientation. We attempted to use the degree of varnish regrowth on the rock art surfaces as an estimate of their age. While an absolute dating of the petroglyphs was not possible because of the lack of suitable calibration surfaces and a considerable amount of variability, the measured degree of varnish regrowth on the various petroglyphs was consistent with chronologies based on archeological and other archaeometric techniques. In particular, our results suggest that rock art creation in the study area continued over an extended period of time, possibly starting around the Pleistocene/Holocene transition and extending into the last few centuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meinrat O. Andreae
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Abdullah Al-Amri
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Alan Garfinkel
- California Rock Art Foundation, Bakersfield, California, United States of America
| | - Gerald Haug
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | - Ulrike Weis
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
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Sklute EC, Rogers AD, Gregerson JC, Jensen HB, Reeder RJ, Dyar MD. Amorphous salts formed from rapid dehydration of multicomponent chloride and ferric sulfate brines: Implications for Mars. ICARUS 2018; 302:285-295. [PMID: 29670302 PMCID: PMC5901898 DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2017.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Salts with high hydration states have the potential to maintain high levels of relative humidity (RH) in the near subsurface of Mars, even at moderate temperatures. These conditions could promote deliquescence of lower hydrates of ferric sulfate, chlorides, and other salts. Previous work on deliquesced ferric sulfates has shown that when these materials undergo rapid dehydration, such as that which would occur upon exposure to present day Martian surface conditions, an amorphous phase forms. However, the fate of deliquesced halides or mixed ferric sulfate-bearing brines are presently unknown. Here we present results of rapid dehydration experiments on Ca-, Na-, Mg- and Fe-chloride brines and multi-component (Fe2 (SO4)3 ± Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Cl, HCO3) brines at ∼21°C, and characterize the dehydration products using visible/near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectroscopy, mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. We find that rapid dehydration of many multicomponent brines can form amorphous solids or solids with an amorphous component, and that the presence of other elements affects the persistence of the amorphous phase under RH fluctuations. Of the pure chloride brines, only Fe-chloride formed an amorphous solid. XRD patterns of the multicomponent amorphous salts show changes in position, shape, and magnitude of the characteristic diffuse scattering observed in all amorphous materials that could be used to help constrain the composition of the amorphous salt. Amorphous salts deliquesce at lower RH values compared to their crystalline counterparts, opening up the possibility of their role in potential deliquescence-related geologic phenomena such as recurring slope lineae (RSLs) or soil induration. This work suggests that a wide range of aqueous mixed salt solutions can lead to the formation of amorphous salts and are possible for Mars; detailed studies of the formation mechanisms, stability and transformation behaviors of amorphous salts are necessary to further constrain their contribution to Martian surface materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C. Sklute
- Department of Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - A. Deanne Rogers
- Department of Geoscience, Stony Brook University, 255 Earth and Space Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
| | - Jason C. Gregerson
- Department of Geoscience, Stony Brook University, 255 Earth and Space Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
| | - Heidi B. Jensen
- Department of Geoscience, Stony Brook University, 255 Earth and Space Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
| | - Richard J. Reeder
- Department of Geoscience, Stony Brook University, 255 Earth and Space Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
| | - M. Darby Dyar
- Department of Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
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Dalton JB, Pitman KM. Low temperature optical constants of some hydrated sulfates relevant to planetary surfaces. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011je004036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Lanza NL, Clegg SM, Wiens RC, McInroy RE, Newsom HE, Deans MD. Examining natural rock varnish and weathering rinds with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for application to ChemCam on Mars. APPLIED OPTICS 2012; 51:B74-B82. [PMID: 22410929 DOI: 10.1364/ao.51.000b74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument is traveling to Mars as part of ChemCam on the Mars Science Laboratory rover. Martian rocks have weathered exteriors that obscure their bulk compositions. We examine weathered rocks with LIBS in a martian atmosphere to improve interpretations of ChemCam rock analyses on Mars. Profile data are analyzed using principal component analysis, and coatings and rinds are examined using scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. Our results show that LIBS is sensitive to minor compositional changes with depth and correctly identifies rock type even if the series of laser pulses does not penetrate to unweathered material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina L Lanza
- Institute of Meteoritics, MSC03 2050, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA.
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Sutter B, Dalton JB, Ewing SA, Amundson R, McKay CP. Terrestrial analogs for interpretation of infrared spectra from the Martian surface and subsurface: Sulfate, nitrate, carbonate, and phyllosilicate-bearing Atacama Desert soils. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006jg000313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Sutter
- SETI Institute; NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
| | - J. B. Dalton
- SETI Institute; NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
| | - S. A. Ewing
- Division of Ecosystem Sciences; University of California; Berkeley California USA
| | - R. Amundson
- Division of Ecosystem Sciences; University of California; Berkeley California USA
| | - C. P. McKay
- NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
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Minitti ME, Weitz CM, Lane MD, Bishop JL. Morphology, chemistry, and spectral properties of Hawaiian rock coatings and implications for Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Murchie S, Arvidson R, Bedini P, Beisser K, Bibring JP, Bishop J, Boldt J, Cavender P, Choo T, Clancy RT, Darlington EH, Des Marais D, Espiritu R, Fort D, Green R, Guinness E, Hayes J, Hash C, Heffernan K, Hemmler J, Heyler G, Humm D, Hutcheson J, Izenberg N, Lee R, Lees J, Lohr D, Malaret E, Martin T, McGovern JA, McGuire P, Morris R, Mustard J, Pelkey S, Rhodes E, Robinson M, Roush T, Schaefer E, Seagrave G, Seelos F, Silverglate P, Slavney S, Smith M, Shyong WJ, Strohbehn K, Taylor H, Thompson P, Tossman B, Wirzburger M, Wolff M. Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 666] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Michalski JR, Kraft MD, Sharp TG, Williams LB, Christensen PR. Emission spectroscopy of clay minerals and evidence for poorly crystalline aluminosilicates on Mars from Thermal Emission Spectrometer data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2005je002438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Yen AS, Gellert R, Schröder C, Morris RV, Bell JF, Knudson AT, Clark BC, Ming DW, Crisp JA, Arvidson RE, Blaney D, Brückner J, Christensen PR, DesMarais DJ, de Souza PA, Economou TE, Ghosh A, Hahn BC, Herkenhoff KE, Haskin LA, Hurowitz JA, Joliff BL, Johnson JR, Klingelhöfer G, Madsen MB, McLennan SM, McSween HY, Richter L, Rieder R, Rodionov D, Soderblom L, Squyres SW, Tosca NJ, Wang A, Wyatt M, Zipfel J. An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils. Nature 2005; 436:49-54. [PMID: 16001059 DOI: 10.1038/nature03637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 300] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2004] [Accepted: 04/08/2005] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The mineralogical and elemental compositions of the martian soil are indicators of chemical and physical weathering processes. Using data from the Mars Exploration Rovers, we show that bright dust deposits on opposite sides of the planet are part of a global unit and not dominated by the composition of local rocks. Dark soil deposits at both sites have similar basaltic mineralogies, and could reflect either a global component or the general similarity in the compositions of the rocks from which they were derived. Increased levels of bromine are consistent with mobilization of soluble salts by thin films of liquid water, but the presence of olivine in analysed soil samples indicates that the extent of aqueous alteration of soils has been limited. Nickel abundances are enhanced at the immediate surface and indicate that the upper few millimetres of soil could contain up to one per cent meteoritic material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert S Yen
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA.
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King PL, McSween HY. Effects of H2O, pH, and oxidation state on the stability of Fe minerals on Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1029/2005je002482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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McSween HY, Grove TL, Wyatt MB. Constraints on the composition and petrogenesis of the Martian crust. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003. [DOI: 10.1029/2003je002175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Harry Y. McSween
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of Tennessee; Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | - Timothy L. Grove
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - Michael B. Wyatt
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
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