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Baccolo G, Delmonte B, Niles PB, Cibin G, Di Stefano E, Hampai D, Keller L, Maggi V, Marcelli A, Michalski J, Snead C, Frezzotti M. Jarosite formation in deep Antarctic ice provides a window into acidic, water-limited weathering on Mars. Nat Commun 2021; 12:436. [PMID: 33469027 PMCID: PMC7815727 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20705-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many interpretations have been proposed to explain the presence of jarosite within Martian surficial sediments, including the possibility that it precipitated within paleo-ice deposits owing to englacial weathering of dust. However, until now a similar geochemical process was not observed on Earth nor in other planetary settings. We report a multi-analytical indication of jarosite formation within deep ice. Below 1000 m depth, jarosite crystals adhering on residual silica-rich particles have been identified in the Talos Dome ice core (East Antarctica) and interpreted as products of weathering involving aeolian dust and acidic atmospheric aerosols. The progressive increase of ice metamorphism and re-crystallization with depth, favours the relocation and concentration of dust and the formation of acidic brines in isolated environments, allowing chemical reactions and mineral neo-formation to occur. This is the first described englacial diagenetic mechanism occurring in deep Antarctic ice and supports the ice-weathering model for jarosite formation on Mars, highlighting the geologic importance of paleo ice-related processes on this planet. Additional implications concern the preservation of dust-related signals in deep ice cores with respect to paleoclimatic reconstructions and the englacial history of meteorites from Antarctic blue ice fields. The authors report in-situ formation of jarosite witin the Talos Dome ice core (East Antarctica) and show that this ferric-potassium sulfate mineral is present in ice deeper than 1000 meters and progressively increases with depth. This has implications for the presence and formation mechanisms of jarosite observed on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Baccolo
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy. .,INFN, section of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy.
| | - Barbara Delmonte
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - P B Niles
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, 77058, USA
| | - Giannantonio Cibin
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Elena Di Stefano
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy.,INFN, section of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy.,Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Dariush Hampai
- Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, 00044, Frascati, Italy
| | | | - Valter Maggi
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy.,INFN, section of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Augusto Marcelli
- Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, 00044, Frascati, Italy.,Rome International Center for Materials Science - Superstripes, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Joseph Michalski
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Loiselle L, McCraig MA, Dyar MD, Léveillé R, Shieh SR, Southam G. A Spectral Comparison of Jarosites Using Techniques Relevant to the Robotic Exploration of Biosignatures on Mars. Life (Basel) 2018; 8:E61. [PMID: 30563260 PMCID: PMC6316503 DOI: 10.3390/life8040061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The acidic sulfate-rich waters of the Meridiani Planum region were potentially a habitable environment for iron-oxidizing bacteria on ancient Mars. If life existed in this ancient martian environment, jarosite minerals precipitating in these waters may record evidence of this biological activity. Since the Meridiani jarosite is thermodynamically stable at the martian surface, any biosignatures preserved in the jarosites may be readily available for analysis in the current surface sediments during the ongoing robotic exploration of Mars. However, thermal decomposition experiments indicate that organic compound detection of sediments containing jarosite may be challenging when using pyrolysis experiments; the instrument commonly used to assess organic matter in martian samples. So, here, we assess if the biogenicity of the Meridiani-type jarosites can be determined using complimentary spectroscopic techniques also utilized during the robotic exploration of Mars, including the upcoming ExoMars2020 rover mission. An abiotic jarosite, synthesized following established protocols, and a biological jarosite counterpart, derived from a microbial enrichment culture of Rio Tinto river sediments, were used to compare four spectroscopy techniques employed in the robotic exploration of Mars (Raman spectroscopy, mid-infrared (IR) spectroscopy, visible near-infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy) to determine if the complimentary information obtained using these instruments can help elucidate the biological influence of Meridiani-type jarosites. Raman spectral differences might be due to the presence of unreacted reagents in the synthetic spectra and not biological contributions. Reflectance (IR/VNIR) spectra might exhibit minor organic absorption contributions, but are observed in both sample spectra, and do not represent a biosignature. Mössbauer spectra show minor differences in fit parameters that are related to crystal morphology and are unrelated to the biological (i.e., organic) component of the system. Results of this study suggest that the identification of biosignatures in Meridiani-type jarosites using the in situ robotic exploration on Mars may be possible but will be challenging. Our work provides additional insight into extraterrestrial biosignature detection and data interpretation for Mars exploration and indicates that sample return missions are likely required to unequivocally resolve the possible biogenicity of the Meridiani sediments or other jarosite-containing sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liane Loiselle
- Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
- Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX), Department of Earth Sciences, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | | | - M Darby Dyar
- Department of Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA.
| | - Richard Léveillé
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0E8, Canada.
| | - Sean R Shieh
- Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX), Department of Earth Sciences, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Gordon Southam
- School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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Insights from the metagenome of an acid salt lake: the role of biology in an extreme depositional environment. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122869. [PMID: 25923206 PMCID: PMC4414474 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The extremely acidic brine lakes of the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia are home to some of the most biologically challenging waters on Earth. In this study, we employed metagenomic shotgun sequencing to generate a microbial profile of the depositional environment associated with the sulfur-rich sediments of one such lake. Of the 1.5 M high-quality reads generated, 0.25 M were mapped to protein features, which in turn provide new insights into the metabolic function of this community. In particular, 45 diverse genes associated with sulfur metabolism were identified, the majority of which were linked to either the conversion of sulfate to adenylylsulfate and the subsequent production of sulfide from sulfite or the oxidation of sulfide, elemental sulfur, and thiosulfate via the sulfur oxidation (Sox) system. This is the first metagenomic study of an acidic, hypersaline depositional environment, and we present evidence for a surprisingly high level of microbial diversity. Our findings also illuminate the possibility that we may be meaningfully underestimating the effects of biology on the chemistry of these sulfur-rich sediments, thereby influencing our understanding of past geobiological conditions that may have been present on Earth as well as early Mars.
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Thollot P, Mangold N, Ansan V, Le Mouélic S, Milliken RE, Bishop JL, Weitz CM, Roach LH, Mustard JF, Murchie SL. Most Mars minerals in a nutshell: Various alteration phases formed in a single environment in Noctis Labyrinthus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011je004028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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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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Murchie SL, Mustard JF, Ehlmann BL, Milliken RE, Bishop JL, McKeown NK, Noe Dobrea EZ, Seelos FP, Buczkowski DL, Wiseman SM, Arvidson RE, Wray JJ, Swayze G, Clark RN, Des Marais DJ, McEwen AS, Bibring JP. A synthesis of Martian aqueous mineralogy after 1 Mars year of observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2009je003342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 356] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Fernández-Remolar DC, Prieto-Ballesteros O, Rodríguez N, Gómez F, Amils R, Gómez-Elvira J, Stoker CR. Underground habitats in the Río Tinto basin: a model for subsurface life habitats on Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2008; 8:1023-1047. [PMID: 19105758 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2006.0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A search for evidence of cryptic life in the subsurface region of a fractured Paleozoic volcanosedimentary deposit near the source waters of the Río Tinto River (Iberian pyrite belt, southwest Spain) was carried out by Mars Astrobiology Research and Technology Experiment (MARTE) project investigators in 2003 and 2004. This conventional deep-drilling experiment is referred to as the MARTE ground truth drilling project. Boreholes were drilled at three sites, and samples from extracted cores were analyzed with light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Core leachates were analyzed with ion chromatography, and borehole fluids were analyzed with ion and gas chromatography. Key variables of the groundwater system (e.g., pO(2), pH, and salinity) exhibit huge ranges probably due to surficial oxygenation of overall reducing waters, physical mixing of waters, and biologically mediated water-rock interactions. Mineral distribution is mainly driven by the pH of subsurface solutions, which range from highly acidic to neutral. Borehole fluids contain dissolved gases such as CO(2), CH(4), and H(2). SEM-EDS analyses of core samples revealed evidence of microbes attacking pyrite. The Río Tinto alteration mechanisms may be similar to subsurface weathering of the martian crust and provide insights into the possible (bio)geochemical cycles that may have accompanied underground habitats in extensive early Mars volcanic regions and associated sulfide ores.
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Kotler JM, Hinman NW, Yan B, Stoner DL, Scott JR. Glycine identification in natural jarosites using laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry: implications for the search for life on Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2008; 8:253-266. [PMID: 18393691 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2006.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The jarosite group minerals have received increasing attention since the discovery of jarosite on the martian surface by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. Given that jarosite can incorporate foreign ions within its structure, we have investigated the use of jarosite as an indicator of aqueous and biological processes on Earth and Mars. The use of laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry has revealed the presence of organic matter in several jarosite samples from various locations worldwide. One of the ions from the natural jarosites has been attributed to glycine because it was systematically observed in combinations of glycine with synthetic ammonium and potassium jarosites, Na(2)SO(4) and K(2)SO(4). The ability to observe these organic signatures in jarosite samples with an in situ instrumental technique, such as the one employed in this study, furthers the goals of planetary geologists to determine whether signs of life (e.g., the presence of biomolecules or biomolecule precursors) can be detected in the rock record of terrestrial and extraterrestrial samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Michelle Kotler
- Geosciences Department, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, 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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Morris RV, Klingelhöfer G, Schröder C, Rodionov DS, Yen A, Ming DW, de Souza PA, Wdowiak T, Fleischer I, Gellert R, Bernhardt B, Bonnes U, Cohen BA, Evlanov EN, Foh J, Gütlich P, Kankeleit E, McCoy T, Mittlefehldt DW, Renz F, Schmidt ME, Zubkov B, Squyres SW, Arvidson RE. Mössbauer mineralogy of rock, soil, and dust at Meridiani Planum, Mars: Opportunity's journey across sulfate-rich outcrop, basaltic sand and dust, and hematite lag deposits. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - G. Klingelhöfer
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - C. Schröder
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - D. S. Rodionov
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
- Space Research Institute IKI; Moscow Russia
| | - A. Yen
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - D. W. Ming
- NASA Johnson Space Center; Houston Texas USA
| | - P. A. de Souza
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
- CVRD Group; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - T. Wdowiak
- Department of Physics; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham Alabama USA
| | - I. Fleischer
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - R. Gellert
- Department of Physics; University of Guelph; Guelph, Ontario Canada
| | - B. Bernhardt
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - U. Bonnes
- Darmstadt University of Technology; Darmstadt Germany
| | - B. A. Cohen
- Institute of Meteoritics; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque, NM USA
| | | | - J. Foh
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
- Darmstadt University of Technology; Darmstadt Germany
| | - P. Gütlich
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - E. Kankeleit
- Darmstadt University of Technology; Darmstadt Germany
| | - T. McCoy
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History; Smithsonian Institution; Washington, DC USA
| | | | - F. Renz
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - M. E. Schmidt
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History; Smithsonian Institution; Washington, DC USA
| | - B. Zubkov
- Space Research Institute IKI; Moscow Russia
| | - S. W. Squyres
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University; Ithaca New York USA
| | - R. E. Arvidson
- Department Earth and Planetary Sciences; Washington University; St. Louis Missouri USA
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Squyres SW, Arvidson RE, Bollen D, Bell JF, Brückner J, Cabrol NA, Calvin WM, Carr MH, Christensen PR, Clark BC, Crumpler L, Des Marais DJ, d'Uston C, Economou T, Farmer J, Farrand WH, Folkner W, Gellert R, Glotch TD, Golombek M, Gorevan S, Grant JA, Greeley R, Grotzinger J, Herkenhoff KE, Hviid S, Johnson JR, Klingelhöfer G, Knoll AH, Landis G, Lemmon M, Li R, Madsen MB, Malin MC, McLennan SM, McSween HY, Ming DW, Moersch J, Morris RV, Parker T, Rice JW, Richter L, Rieder R, Schröder C, Sims M, Smith M, Smith P, Soderblom LA, Sullivan R, Tosca NJ, Wänke H, Wdowiak T, Wolff M, Yen A. Overview of the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover Mission to Meridiani Planum: Eagle Crater to Purgatory Ripple. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. W. Squyres
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University, Space Sciences Building; Ithaca New York USA
| | - R. E. Arvidson
- Department Earth and Planetary Sciences; Washington University; St. Louis Missouri USA
| | - D. Bollen
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University, Space Sciences Building; Ithaca New York USA
| | - J. F. Bell
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University, Space Sciences Building; Ithaca New York USA
| | - J. Brückner
- Max Planck Institut für Chemie, Kosmochemie; Mainz Germany
| | - N. A. Cabrol
- NASA Ames/SETI Institute; Moffett Field California USA
| | - W. M. Calvin
- Department of Geological Sciences; University of Nevada, Reno; Reno Nevada USA
| | - M. H. Carr
- U.S. Geological Survey; Menlo Park California USA
| | - P. R. Christensen
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - B. C. Clark
- Lockheed Martin Corporation; Littleton Colorado USA
| | - L. Crumpler
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
| | | | - C. d'Uston
- Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements; Toulouse France
| | - T. Economou
- Enrico Fermi Institute; University of Chicago; Chicago Illinois USA
| | - J. Farmer
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | | | - W. Folkner
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - R. Gellert
- Department of Physics; University of Guelph; Guelph, Ontario Canada
| | - T. D. Glotch
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - M. Golombek
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | | | - J. A. Grant
- Center for Earth and Planetary Studies; Smithsonian Institution; Washington, D. C. USA
| | - R. Greeley
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - J. Grotzinger
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | | | - S. Hviid
- Max Planck Institut für Sonnensystemforschung; Katlenburg-Lindau Germany
| | | | - G. Klingelhöfer
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - A. H. Knoll
- Botanical Museum; Harvard University; Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - G. Landis
- NASA Glenn Research Center; Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - M. Lemmon
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station Texas USA
| | - R. Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science; Ohio State University; Columbus Ohio USA
| | - M. B. Madsen
- Niels Bohr Institute; Ørsted Laboratory; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - M. C. Malin
- Malin Space Science Systems; San Diego California USA
| | - S. M. McLennan
- Department of Geosciences; State University of New York; Stony Brook New York USA
| | - H. Y. McSween
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of Tennessee; Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | - D. W. Ming
- NASA Johnson Space Center; Houston Texas USA
| | - J. Moersch
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of Tennessee; Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | | | - T. Parker
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - J. W. Rice
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - L. Richter
- DLR Institute of Space Simulation; Cologne Germany
| | - R. Rieder
- Max Planck Institut für Chemie, Kosmochemie; Mainz Germany
| | - C. Schröder
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - M. Sims
- NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
| | - M. Smith
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Greenbelt Maryland USA
| | - P. Smith
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona USA
| | | | - R. Sullivan
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University, Space Sciences Building; Ithaca New York USA
| | - N. J. Tosca
- Department of Geosciences; State University of New York; Stony Brook New York USA
| | - H. Wänke
- Max Planck Institut für Chemie, Kosmochemie; Mainz Germany
| | - T. Wdowiak
- Department of Physics; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham Alabama USA
| | - M. Wolff
- Space Science Institute; Martinez Georgia USA
| | - A. Yen
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
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Hurowitz JA, McLennan SM, Tosca NJ, Arvidson RE, Michalski JR, Ming DW, Schröder C, Squyres SW. In situ and experimental evidence for acidic weathering of rocks and soils on Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2005je002515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. A. Hurowitz
- Department of Geosciences; State University of New York at Stony Brook; Stony Brook New York USA
| | - S. M. McLennan
- Department of Geosciences; State University of New York at Stony Brook; Stony Brook New York USA
| | - N. J. Tosca
- Department of Geosciences; State University of New York at Stony Brook; Stony Brook New York USA
| | - R. E. Arvidson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Washington University; St. Louis Missouri USA
| | - J. R. Michalski
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - D. W. Ming
- NASA Johnson Space Center; Houston Texas USA
| | - C. Schröder
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Johannes Gutenberg-Universität; Mainz Germany
| | - S. W. Squyres
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University; Ithaca New York USA
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Chio CH, Sharma SK, Muenow DW. Micro-Raman studies of hydrous ferrous sulfates and jarosites. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2005; 61:2428-33. [PMID: 16029866 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2005.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2004] [Accepted: 02/04/2005] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ferrous sulfates of various hydration states (FeSO(4) X xH(2)O; x=7, 4, 1) and jarosites (MFe(3)(SO(4))(2)(OH)(6); M=Na or K) were synthesized and studied by micro-Raman spectroscopy between 295 and 8K. Spectral analyses of the sulfate and water/hydroxyl vibrational modes are presented. Fingerprint regions attributed to the symmetric (nu(1)) and antisymmetric (nu(3)) stretching vibrations of the sulfate group are found to vary with the degree of hydration in hydrous ferrous sulfate. In jarosites, the Raman shift of the OH stretching mode is related to the type of alkali metal present between the tetrahedral and octahedral layers. The Raman technique can thus unambiguously identify ferrous sulfate of various hydration states and jarosites bearing different alkali metal ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Hong Chio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822, 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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17
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Klingelhöfer G, Morris RV, Bernhardt B, Schröder C, Rodionov DS, de Souza PA, Yen A, Gellert R, Evlanov EN, Zubkov B, Foh J, Bonnes U, Kankeleit E, Gütlich P, Ming DW, Renz F, Wdowiak T, Squyres SW, Arvidson RE. Jarosite and Hematite at Meridiani Planum from Opportunity's Mössbauer Spectrometer. Science 2004; 306:1740-5. [PMID: 15576610 DOI: 10.1126/science.1104653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Mossbauer spectra measured by the Opportunity rover revealed four mineralogical components in Meridiani Planum at Eagle crater: jarosite- and hematite-rich outcrop, hematite-rich soil, olivine-bearing basaltic soil, and a pyroxene-bearing basaltic rock (Bounce rock). Spherules, interpreted to be concretions, are hematite-rich and dispersed throughout the outcrop. Hematitic soils both within and outside Eagle crater are dominated by spherules and their fragments. Olivine-bearing basaltic soil is present throughout the region. Bounce rock is probably an impact erratic. Because jarosite is a hydroxide sulfate mineral, its presence at Meridiani Planum is mineralogical evidence for aqueous processes on Mars, probably under acid-sulfate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Klingelhöfer
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Staudinger Weg 9, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
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Fairén AG, Fernández-Remolar D, Dohm JM, Baker VR, Amils R. Inhibition of carbonate synthesis in acidic oceans on early Mars. Nature 2004; 431:423-6. [PMID: 15386004 DOI: 10.1038/nature02911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2004] [Accepted: 07/23/2004] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence have recently reinforced the hypothesis that an ocean existed on early Mars. Carbonates are accordingly expected to have formed from oceanic sedimentation of carbon dioxide from the ancient martian atmosphere. But spectral imaging of the martian surface has revealed the presence of only a small amount of carbonate, widely distributed in the martian dust. Here we examine the feasibility of carbonate synthesis in ancient martian oceans using aqueous equilibrium calculations. We show that partial pressures of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the range 0.8-4 bar, in the presence of up to 13.5 mM sulphate and 0.8 mM iron in sea water, result in an acidic oceanic environment with a pH of less than 6.2. This precludes the formation of siderite, usually expected to be the first major carbonate mineral to precipitate. We conclude that extensive interaction between an atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide and a lasting sulphate- and iron-enriched acidic ocean on early Mars is a plausible explanation for the observed absence of carbonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto G Fairén
- Centro de Biología Molecular, CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049-Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
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Burns RG, Fisher DS. Iron-sulfur mineralogy of Mars: Magmatic evolution and chemical weathering products. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1990. [DOI: 10.1029/jb095ib09p14415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Bell JF, McCord TB, Owensby PD. Observational evidence of crystalline iron oxides on Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1990. [DOI: 10.1029/jb095ib09p14447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Schaefer MW. Geochemical evolution of the Northern Plains of Mars: Early hydrosphere, carbonate development, and present morphology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1990. [DOI: 10.1029/jb095ib09p14291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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