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Hughes SS, Haberle CW, Kobs Nawotniak SE, Sehlke A, Garry WB, Elphic RC, Payler SJ, Stevens AH, Cockell CS, Brady AL, Heldmann JL, Lim DS. Basaltic Terrains in Idaho and Hawai'i as Planetary Analogs for Mars Geology and Astrobiology. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:260-283. [PMID: 30339033 PMCID: PMC6442300 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Field research target regions within two basaltic geologic provinces are described as Earth analogs to Mars. Regions within the eastern Snake River Plain of Idaho and the Big Island of Hawai'i, the United States, provinces that represent analogs of present-day and early Mars, respectively, were evaluated on the basis of geologic settings, rock lithology and geochemistry, rock alteration, and climate. Each of these factors provides rationale for the selection of specific targets for field research in five analog target regions: (1) Big Craters and (2) Highway lava flows at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho, and (3) Mauna Ulu low shield, (4) Kīlauea Iki lava lake, and (5) Kīlauea caldera in the Kīlauea Volcano summit region and the East Rift Zone of Hawai'i. Our evaluation of compositional and textural attributes, as well as the effects of syn- and posteruptive rock alteration, shows that basaltic terrains in Idaho and Hawai'i provide a way to characterize the geology and major geologic substrates that host biological activity of relevance to Mars exploration. This work provides the foundation to better understand the scientific questions related to the habitability of basaltic terrains, the rationale behind selecting analog field targets, and their applicability as analogs to Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott S. Hughes
- Department of Geosciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho
| | - Christopher W. Haberle
- Mars Space Flight Facility, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | | | | | | | | | - Samuel J. Payler
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Adam H. Stevens
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Charles S. Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Allyson L. Brady
- School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer L. Heldmann
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
- NASA Headquarters, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Darlene S.S. Lim
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
- BAER Institute, Moffett Field, California
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