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Day JMD, Paquet M, Udry A, Moynier F. A heterogeneous mantle and crustal structure formed during the early differentiation of Mars. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn9830. [PMID: 38820147 PMCID: PMC11141613 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn9830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Highly siderophile element abundances and Os isotopes of nakhlite and chassignite meteorites demonstrate that they represent a comagmatic suite from Mars. Nakhlites experienced variable assimilation of >2-billion-year-old altered high Re/Os basaltic crust. This basaltic crust is distinct from the ancient crust represented by meteorites Allan Hills 84001 or impact-contaminated Northwest Africa 7034/7533. Nakhlites and chassignites that did not experience crustal assimilation reveal that they were extracted from a depleted lithospheric mantle distinct from the deep plume source of depleted shergottites. The comagmatic origin for nakhlites and chassignites demonstrates a layered martian interior comprising ancient enriched basaltic crust derived from trace element-rich shallow magma ocean cumulates, a variably metasomatized mantle lithosphere, and a trace element-depleted deep mantle sampled by plume magmatism.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M. D. Day
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Marine Paquet
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques de Nancy, CNRS, Université de Lorraine 15 Rue Notre Dame des Pauvres 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Arya Udry
- Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Lilly Fong Geoscience Building, 4505 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Frederic Moynier
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, 1 rue Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
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2
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Tian S, Ding X, Qi Y, Wu F, Cai Y, Gaschnig RM, Xiao Z, Lv W, Rudnick RL, Huang F. Dominance of felsic continental crust on Earth after 3 billion years ago is recorded by vanadium isotopes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220563120. [PMID: 36893277 PMCID: PMC10243130 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220563120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition from mafic to felsic upper continental crust (UCC) is crucial to habitability of Earth, and may be related to the onset of plate tectonics. Thus, defining when this crustal transition occurred has great significance for the evolution of Earth and its inhabitants. We demonstrate that V isotope ratios (reported as δ51V) provide insights into this transition because they correlate positively with SiO2 and negatively with MgO contents during igneous differentiation in both subduction zones and intraplate settings. Because δ51V is not affected by chemical weathering and fluid-rock interactions, δ51V of the fine-grained matrix of Archean to Paleozoic (3 to 0.3 Ga) glacial diamictite composites, which sample the UCC at the time of glaciation, reflect the chemical composition of the UCC through time. The δ51V values of glacial diamictites systematically increase with time, indicating a dominantly mafic UCC at ~3 Ga; the UCC was dominated by felsic rocks only after 3 Ga, coinciding with widespread continental emergence and many independent estimates for the onset of plate tectonics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyu Tian
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui230026, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Xin Ding
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui230026, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Yuhan Qi
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui230026, China
| | - Fei Wu
- School of Earth Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan430074, China
| | - Yue Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Nanjing210008, China
- Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, China
| | - Richard M. Gaschnig
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA01854
| | - Zicong Xiao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui230026, China
| | - Weixin Lv
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui230026, China
| | - Roberta L. Rudnick
- Department of Earth Science, University of California–Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Earth Research Institution, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Fang Huang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui230026, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
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3
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Zhu K, Schiller M, Pan L, Saji NS, Larsen KK, Amsellem E, Rundhaug C, Sossi P, Leya I, Moynier F, Bizzarro M. Late delivery of exotic chromium to the crust of Mars by water-rich carbonaceous asteroids. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabp8415. [PMID: 36383650 PMCID: PMC9668285 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abp8415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The terrestrial planets endured a phase of bombardment following their accretion, but the nature of this late accreted material is debated, preventing a full understanding of the origin of inner solar system volatiles. We report the discovery of nucleosynthetic chromium isotope variability (μ54Cr) in Martian meteorites that represent mantle-derived magmas intruded in the Martian crust. The μ54Cr variability, ranging from -33.1 ± 5.4 to +6.8 ± 1.5 parts per million, correlates with magma chemistry such that samples having assimilated crustal material define a positive μ54Cr endmember. This compositional endmember represents the primordial crust modified by impacting outer solar system bodies of carbonaceous composition. Late delivery of this volatile-rich material to Mars provided an exotic water inventory corresponding to a global water layer >300 meters deep, in addition to the primordial water reservoir from mantle outgassing. This carbonaceous material may also have delivered a source of biologically relevant molecules to early Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhu
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Martin Schiller
- Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lu Pan
- Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nikitha Susan Saji
- Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirsten K. Larsen
- Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elsa Amsellem
- Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Courtney Rundhaug
- Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paolo Sossi
- Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ingo Leya
- Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Frederic Moynier
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Martin Bizzarro
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France
- Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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4
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Wang J, Han Y, Li Y, Zhang F, Cai M, Zhang X, Chen J, Ji C, Ma J, Xu F. Targeting Tumor Physical Microenvironment for Improved Radiotherapy. SMALL METHODS 2022; 6:e2200570. [PMID: 36116123 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202200570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Radiotherapy has led to important clinical advances; existing cancer radiotherapy resistance is one remaining major challenge. Recently, biophysical cues in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been regarded as the new hallmarks of cancer, playing pivotal roles in various cancer behaviors and treatment responses, including radiotherapy resistance. With recent advances in micro/nanotechnologies and functional biomaterials, radiotherapy exerts great influence on biophysical cues in TME, which, in turn, significantly affect the response to radiotherapy. Besides, various strategies have emerged that target biophysical cues in TME, to potentially enhance radiotherapy efficacy. Therefore, this paper reviews the four biophysical cues (i.e., extracellular matrix (ECM) microarchitecture, ECM stiffness, interstitial fluid pressure, and solid stress) that may play important roles in radiotherapy resistance, their possible mechanisms for inducing it, and their change after radiotherapy. The emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the biophysical microenvironment, to explore the mechanism of radiotherapy resistance and develop effective strategies to revert it for improved treatment efficacy are further summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Yulong Han
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Li
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Fengping Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Mengjiao Cai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Chao Ji
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Jinlu Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, P. R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
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5
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Lagain A, Bouley S, Zanda B, Miljković K, Rajšić A, Baratoux D, Payré V, Doucet LS, Timms NE, Hewins R, Benedix GK, Malarewic V, Servis K, Bland PA. Early crustal processes revealed by the ejection site of the oldest martian meteorite. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3782. [PMID: 35821210 PMCID: PMC9276826 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31444-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation and differentiation of the crust of Mars in the first tens of millions of years after its accretion can only be deciphered from incredibly limited records. The martian breccia NWA 7034 and its paired stones is one of them. This meteorite contains the oldest martian igneous material ever dated: ~4.5 Ga old. However, its source and geological context have so far remained unknown. Here, we show that the meteorite was ejected 5-10 Ma ago from the north-east of the Terra Cimmeria-Sirenum province, in the southern hemisphere of Mars. More specifically, the breccia belongs to the ejecta deposits of the Khujirt crater formed 1.5 Ga ago, and it was ejected as a result of the formation of the Karratha crater 5-10 Ma ago. Our findings demonstrate that the Terra Cimmeria-Sirenum province is a relic of the differentiated primordial martian crust, formed shortly after the accretion of the planet, and that it constitutes a unique record of early crustal processes. This province is an ideal landing site for future missions aiming to unravel the first tens of millions of years of the history of Mars and, by extension, of all terrestrial planets, including the Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lagain
- Space Science and Technology Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - S Bouley
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, GEOPS, 91405, Orsay, France.,IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, 77 avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75005, Paris, France
| | - B Zanda
- IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, 77 avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75005, Paris, France.,Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Université et CNRS, 75005, Paris, France
| | - K Miljković
- Space Science and Technology Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - A Rajšić
- Space Science and Technology Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - D Baratoux
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, University of Toulouse, CNRS and IRD, Toulouse, 31400, France.,Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - V Payré
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - L S Doucet
- Earth Dynamics Research Group, TIGeR, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - N E Timms
- Space Science and Technology Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR), Curtin University, Perth, 6845, WA, Australia
| | - R Hewins
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Université et CNRS, 75005, Paris, France.,EPS, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - G K Benedix
- Space Science and Technology Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Western Australian Museum, Perth, WA, Australia.,Planetary Sciences Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - V Malarewic
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, GEOPS, 91405, Orsay, France.,Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Université et CNRS, 75005, Paris, France
| | - K Servis
- Space Science and Technology Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, CSIRO, Kensington, WA, Australia
| | - P A Bland
- Space Science and Technology Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Köksal ES, Põldsalu I, Friis H, Mojzsis SJ, Bizzarro M, Gözen I. Spontaneous Formation of Prebiotic Compartment Colonies on Hadean Earth and Pre‐Noachian Mars**. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202100040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elif S. Köksal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway Faculty of Medicine University of Oslo 0318 Oslo Norway
| | - Inga Põldsalu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway Faculty of Medicine University of Oslo 0318 Oslo Norway
| | - Henrik Friis
- Natural History Museum University of Oslo Postboks 1172 Blindern 0318 Oslo Norway
| | - Stephen J. Mojzsis
- Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences 15–17 Konkoly Thege Miklós Road Budapest 1121 Hungary
- Department of Lithospheric Research University of Vienna UZA 2, Althanstraße 14 1090 Vienna Austria
- Department of Geological Sciences University of Colorado UCB 399, 2200 Colorado Avenue Boulder CO 80309-0399 USA
| | - Martin Bizzarro
- Centre for Star and Planet Formation GLOBE Institute University of Copenhagen 1350 Copenhagen K Denmark
| | - Irep Gözen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway Faculty of Medicine University of Oslo 0318 Oslo Norway
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences University of Oslo 0315 Oslo Norway
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7
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Ojha L, Karunatillake S, Karimi S, Buffo J. Amagmatic hydrothermal systems on Mars from radiogenic heat. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1754. [PMID: 33741920 PMCID: PMC7979869 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21762-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-lived hydrothermal systems are prime targets for astrobiological exploration on Mars. Unlike magmatic or impact settings, radiogenic hydrothermal systems can survive for >100 million years because of the Ga half-lives of key radioactive elements (e.g., U, Th, and K), but remain unknown on Mars. Here, we use geochemistry, gravity, topography data, and numerical models to find potential radiogenic hydrothermal systems on Mars. We show that the Eridania region, which once contained a vast inland sea, possibly exceeding the combined volume of all other Martian surface water, could have readily hosted a radiogenic hydrothermal system. Thus, radiogenic hydrothermalism in Eridania could have sustained clement conditions for life far longer than most other habitable sites on Mars. Water radiolysis by radiogenic heat could have produced H2, a key electron donor for microbial life. Furthermore, hydrothermal circulation may help explain the region's high crustal magnetic field and gravity anomaly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lujendra Ojha
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Suniti Karunatillake
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Saman Karimi
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacob Buffo
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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8
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Fujiya W, Furukawa Y, Sugahara H, Koike M, Bajo KI, Chabot NL, Miura YN, Moynier F, Russell SS, Tachibana S, Takano Y, Usui T, Zolensky ME. Analytical protocols for Phobos regolith samples returned by the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. EARTH, PLANETS, AND SPACE : EPS 2021; 73:120. [PMID: 34776735 PMCID: PMC8550573 DOI: 10.1186/s40623-021-01438-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will launch a spacecraft in 2024 for a sample return mission from Phobos (Martian Moons eXploration: MMX). Touchdown operations are planned to be performed twice at different landing sites on the Phobos surface to collect > 10 g of the Phobos surface materials with coring and pneumatic sampling systems on board. The Sample Analysis Working Team (SAWT) of MMX is now designing analytical protocols of the returned Phobos samples to shed light on the origin of the Martian moons as well as the evolution of the Mars-moon system. Observations of petrology and mineralogy, and measurements of bulk chemical compositions and stable isotopic ratios of, e.g., O, Cr, Ti, and Zn can provide crucial information about the origin of Phobos. If Phobos is a captured asteroid composed of primitive chondritic materials, as inferred from its reflectance spectra, geochemical data including the nature of organic matter as well as bulk H and N isotopic compositions characterize the volatile materials in the samples and constrain the type of the captured asteroid. Cosmogenic and solar wind components, most pronounced in noble gas isotopic compositions, can reveal surface processes on Phobos. Long- and short-lived radionuclide chronometry such as 53Mn-53Cr and 87Rb-87Sr systematics can date pivotal events like impacts, thermal metamorphism, and aqueous alteration on Phobos. It should be noted that the Phobos regolith is expected to contain a small amount of materials delivered from Mars, which may be physically and chemically different from any Martian meteorites in our collection and thus are particularly precious. The analysis plan will be designed to detect such Martian materials, if any, from the returned samples dominated by the endogenous Phobos materials in curation procedures at JAXA before they are processed for further analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Fujiya
- Ibaraki University, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki 310-8512 Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Furukawa
- Tohoku University, 6-3 Aza-aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578 Japan
| | - Haruna Sugahara
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, JAXA, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
| | - Mizuho Koike
- Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526 Japan
| | - Ken-ichi Bajo
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Hokkaido University, N10W8 Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan
| | - Nancy L. Chabot
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723 USA
| | - Yayoi N. Miura
- Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032 Japan
| | - Frederic Moynier
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Sara S. Russell
- Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | - Shogo Tachibana
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, JAXA, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
- UTOPS, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
| | - Yoshinori Takano
- Biogeochemistry Research Center, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natsushima, Yokosuka, 237-0061 Japan
| | - Tomohiro Usui
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, JAXA, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
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Russell MJ, Ponce A. Six 'Must-Have' Minerals for Life's Emergence: Olivine, Pyrrhotite, Bridgmanite, Serpentine, Fougerite and Mackinawite. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E291. [PMID: 33228029 PMCID: PMC7699418 DOI: 10.3390/life10110291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Life cannot emerge on a planet or moon without the appropriate electrochemical disequilibria and the minerals that mediate energy-dissipative processes. Here, it is argued that four minerals, olivine ([Mg>Fe]2SiO4), bridgmanite ([Mg,Fe]SiO3), serpentine ([Mg,Fe,]2-3Si2O5[OH)]4), and pyrrhotite (Fe(1-x)S), are an essential requirement in planetary bodies to produce such disequilibria and, thereby, life. Yet only two minerals, fougerite ([Fe2+6xFe3+6(x-1)O12H2(7-3x)]2+·[(CO2-)·3H2O]2-) and mackinawite (Fe[Ni]S), are vital-comprising precipitate membranes-as initial "free energy" conductors and converters of such disequilibria, i.e., as the initiators of a CO2-reducing metabolism. The fact that wet and rocky bodies in the solar system much smaller than Earth or Venus do not reach the internal pressure (≥23 GPa) requirements in their mantles sufficient for producing bridgmanite and, therefore, are too reduced to stabilize and emit CO2-the staple of life-may explain the apparent absence or negligible concentrations of that gas on these bodies, and thereby serves as a constraint in the search for extraterrestrial life. The astrobiological challenge then is to search for worlds that (i) are large enough to generate internal pressures such as to produce bridgmanite or (ii) boast electron acceptors, including imported CO2, from extraterrestrial sources in their hydrospheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Russell
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Adrian Ponce
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA;
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