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Schmitt-Kopplin P, Matzka M, Ruf A, Menez B, Chennaoui Aoudjehane H, Harir M, Lucio M, Hertzog J, Hertkorn N, Gougeon RD, Hoffmann V, Hinman NW, Ferrière L, Greshake A, Gabelica Z, Trif L, Steele A. Complex carbonaceous matter in Tissint martian meteorites give insights into the diversity of organic geochemistry on Mars. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd6439. [PMID: 36630504 PMCID: PMC9833655 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add6439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We report a huge organic diversity in the Tissint Mars meteorite and the sampling of several mineralogical lithologies, which revealed that the organic molecules were nonuniformly distributed in functionality and abundance. The range of organics in Tissint meteorite were abundant C3-7 aliphatic branched carboxylic acids and aldehydes, olefins, and polyaromatics with and without heteroatoms in a homologous oxidation structural continuum. Organomagnesium compounds were extremely abundant in olivine macrocrystals and in the melt veins, reflecting specific organo-synsthesis processes in close interaction with the magnesium silicates and temperature stresses, as previously observed. The diverse chemistry and abundance in complex molecules reveal heterogeneity in organic speciation within the minerals grown in the martian mantle and crust that may have evolved over geological time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry, Freising-Weihenstephan 85354, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Center for Astrochemical Studies, Garching 85748, Germany
- Helmholtz München, Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Marco Matzka
- Helmholtz München, Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Alexander Ruf
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry, Freising-Weihenstephan 85354, Germany
- Excellence Cluster ORIGINS, Boltzmannstraße 2, Garching 85748, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Butenandtstr. 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Benedicte Menez
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS - 1, rue Jussieu, Paris Cedex 05 75238, France
| | - Hasnaa Chennaoui Aoudjehane
- Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, GAIA Laboratory, Hassan II University of Casablanca, km 8 Route d’El Jadida, Casablanca 20150, Morocco
| | - Mourad Harir
- Helmholtz München, Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Marianna Lucio
- Helmholtz München, Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Jasmine Hertzog
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry, Freising-Weihenstephan 85354, Germany
- Helmholtz München, Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Norbert Hertkorn
- Helmholtz München, Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Régis D. Gougeon
- UMR Procédés Alimentaires et Microbiologiques, Université de Bourgogne/AgroSupDijon, Institut Universitaire de la Vigne et du Vin Jules Guyot, Dijon 21000, France
| | - Victor Hoffmann
- Faculty of Geosciences, Dep. Geo- and Environmental Sciences, LMU, Muenchen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Zelimir Gabelica
- Université de Haute Alsace, École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Mulhouse, F-68094 Mulhouse Cedex, France
| | - László Trif
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrew Steele
- Earth and Planetary Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, 5251 Broad Branch Rd., Washington, DC 20015, USA
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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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Steele A, Benning LG, Wirth R, Siljeström S, Fries MD, Hauri E, Conrad PG, Rogers K, Eigenbrode J, Schreiber A, Needham A, Wang JH, McCubbin FM, Kilcoyne D, Rodriguez Blanco JD. Organic synthesis on Mars by electrochemical reduction of CO 2. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaat5118. [PMID: 30402538 PMCID: PMC6209388 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat5118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The sources and nature of organic carbon on Mars have been a subject of intense research. Steele et al. (2012) showed that 10 martian meteorites contain macromolecular carbon phases contained within pyroxene- and olivine-hosted melt inclusions. Here, we show that martian meteorites Tissint, Nakhla, and NWA 1950 have an inventory of organic carbon species associated with fluid-mineral reactions that are remarkably consistent with those detected by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. We advance the hypothesis that interactions among spinel-group minerals, sulfides, and a brine enable the electrochemical reduction of aqueous CO2 to organic molecules. Although documented here in martian samples, a similar process likely occurs wherever igneous rocks containing spinel-group minerals and/or sulfides encounter brines.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Steele
- Carnegie Institution for Science, Geophysical Laboratory, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | - L. G. Benning
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - R. Wirth
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - S. Siljeström
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Bioscience and Materials/Chemistry, Materials and Surfaces, Box 5607, 114 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M. D. Fries
- NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA
| | - E. Hauri
- Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5241 Broad Branch Rd, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | - P. G. Conrad
- Carnegie Institution for Science, Geophysical Laboratory, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | - K. Rogers
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - J. Eigenbrode
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
| | - A. Schreiber
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - A. Needham
- USRA–Science and Technology Institute, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA
| | - J. H. Wang
- Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5241 Broad Branch Rd, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | | | - D. Kilcoyne
- Advanced Light Source, 1 Cyclotron Road, MS 7R0222, LBNL, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Juan Diego Rodriguez Blanco
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- ICRAG, Department of Geology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Oberlin EA, Claire MW, Kounaves SP. Evaluation of the Tindouf Basin Region in Southern Morocco as an Analogue Site for Soil Geochemistry on Noachian Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1318-1328. [PMID: 29424566 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2016.1557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Locations on Earth that provide insights into processes that may be occurring or may have occurred throughout martian history are often broadly deemed "Mars analog environments." As no single locale can precisely represent a past or present martian environment, it is important to focus on characterization of terrestrial processes that produce analogous features to those observed in specific regions of Mars or, if possible, specific time periods during martian history. Here, we report on the preservation of ionic species in soil samples collected from the Tindouf region of Morocco and compare them with the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, the Atacama Desert in Chile, the martian meteorite EETA79001, and the in situ Mars analyses from the Phoenix Wet Chemistry Laboratory (WCL). The Moroccan samples show the greatest similarity with those from Victoria Valley, Beacon Valley, and the Atacama, while being consistently depleted compared to University Valley and enriched compared to Taylor Valley. The NO3/Cl ratios are most similar to Victoria Valley and Atacama, while the SO4/Cl ratios are similar to those from Beacon Valley, Victoria Valley, and the Atacama. While perchlorate concentrations in the Moroccan samples are typically lower than those found in samples of other analog sites, conditions in the region are sufficiently arid to retain oxychlorines at detectable levels. Our results suggest that the Tindouf Basin in Morocco can serve as a suitable analogue for the soil geochemistry and subsequent aridification of the Noachian epoch on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark W Claire
- 2 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews , UK
- 3 Centre for Exoplanet Science, University of St Andrews , UK
- 4 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Samuel P Kounaves
- 1 Department of Chemistry, Tufts University , Medford, Massachusetts, USA
- 5 Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London , UK
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Terrestrial exposure of a fresh Martian meteorite causes rapid changes in hydrogen isotopes and water concentrations. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12385. [PMID: 30120344 PMCID: PMC6097984 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30807-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the hydrogen isotopic compositions and H2O contents of meteorites and their components is important for addressing key cosmochemical questions about the abundance and source(s) of water in planetary bodies. However, deconvolving the effects of terrestrial contamination from the indigenous hydrogen isotopic compositions of these extraterrestrial materials is not trivial, because chondrites and some achondrites show only small deviations from terrestrial values such that even minor contamination can mask the indigenous values. Here we assess the effects of terrestrial weathering and contamination on the hydrogen isotope ratios and H2O contents of meteoritic minerals through monitored terrestrial weathering of Tissint, a recent Martian fall. Our findings reveal the rapidity with which this weathering affects nominally anhydrous phases in extraterrestrial materials, which illustrates the necessity of sampling the interiors of even relatively fresh meteorite falls and underlines the importance of sample return missions.
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Bebout G, Banerjee N, Izawa M, Kobayashi K, Lazzeri K, Ranieri L, Nakamura E. Nitrogen Concentrations and Isotopic Compositions of Seafloor-Altered Terrestrial Basaltic Glass: Implications for Astrobiology. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:330-342. [PMID: 29106312 PMCID: PMC5867513 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Observed enrichments of N (and the δ15N of this N) in volcanic glasses altered on Earth's modern and ancient seafloor are relevant in considerations of modern global N subduction fluxes and ancient life on Earth, and similarly altered glasses on Mars and other extraterrestrial bodies could serve as valuable tracers of biogeochemical processes. Palagonitized glasses and whole-rock samples of volcanic rocks on the modern seafloor (ODP Site 1256D) contain 3-18 ppm N with δ15Nair values of up to +4.5‰. Variably altered glasses from Mesozoic ophiolites (Troodos, Cyprus; Stonyford volcanics, USA) contain 2-53 ppm N with δ15N of -6.3 to +7‰. All of the more altered glasses have N concentrations higher than those of fresh volcanic glass (for MORB, <2 ppm N), reflecting significant N enrichment, and most of the altered glasses have δ15N considerably higher than that of their unaltered glass equivalents (for MORB, -5 ± 2‰). Circulation of hydrothermal fluids, in part induced by nearby spreading-center magmatism, could have leached NH4+ from sediments then fixed this NH4+ in altering volcanic glasses. Glasses from each site contain possible textural evidence for microbial activity in the form of microtubules, but any role of microbes in producing the N enrichments and elevated δ15N remains uncertain. Petrographic analysis, and imaging and chemical analyses by scanning electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy, indicate the presence of phyllosilicates (smectite, illite) in both the palagonitized cracks and the microtubules. These phyllosilicates (particularly illite), and possibly also zeolites, are the likely hosts for N in these glasses. Key Words: Nitrogen-Nitrogen isotope-Palagonite-Volcanic glass-Mars. Astrobiology 18, 330-342.
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Affiliation(s)
- G.E. Bebout
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Japan
| | - N.R. Banerjee
- Department of Earth Sciences, Western University, London, Canada
| | - M.R.M. Izawa
- Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Japan
- Department of Earth Sciences, Western University, London, Canada
| | - K. Kobayashi
- Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Japan
| | - K. Lazzeri
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - L.A. Ranieri
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - E. Nakamura
- Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Japan
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Kereszturi A, Chatzitheodoridis E. Searching for the Source Crater of Nakhlite Meteorites. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2016; 46:455-471. [PMID: 27021613 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-016-9498-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We surveyed the Martian surface in order to identify possible source craters of the nakhlite Martian meteorites. We investigated rayed craters that are assumed to be younger than 11 Ma, on lava surfaces with a solidification age around 1.2 Ga. An area of 17.3 million km2 Amazonian lava plains was surveyed and 53 rayed craters were identified. Although most of them are smaller than the threshold limit that is estimated as minimum of launching fragments to possible Earth crossing trajectories, their observed size frequency distribution agrees with the expected areal density from cratering models characteristic for craters that are less than few tens of Ma old. We identified 6 craters larger than 3 km diameter constituting the potentially best source craters for nakhlites. These larger candidates are located mostly on a smooth lava surface, and in some cases, on the earlier fluvial-like channels. In three cases they are associated with fluidized ejecta lobes and rays - although the rays are faint in these craters, thus might be older than the other craters with more obvious rays. More work is therefore required to accurately estimate ages based on ray system for this purpose. A more detailed search should further link remote sensing Martian data with the in-situ laboratory analyses of Martian meteorites, especially in case of high altitude, steep terrains, where the crater rays seems to rarely survive several Ma.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kereszturi
- Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
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9
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Povinec PP, Sýkora I, Kováčik A, Koeberl C. High-sensitivity HPGe gamma-spectrometry analysis of radionuclides in Martian meteorites. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4523-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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10
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Evidence for indigenous nitrogen in sedimentary and aeolian deposits from the Curiosity rover investigations at Gale crater, Mars. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:4245-50. [PMID: 25831544 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1420932112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has detected oxidized nitrogen-bearing compounds during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled sedimentary deposits within Gale crater. Total N concentrations ranged from 20 to 250 nmol N per sample. After subtraction of known N sources in SAM, our results support the equivalent of 110-300 ppm of nitrate in the Rocknest (RN) aeolian samples, and 70-260 and 330-1,100 ppm nitrate in John Klein (JK) and Cumberland (CB) mudstone deposits, respectively. Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and, specifically, for the potential evolution of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The detection of nitrate in both wind-drifted fines (RN) and in mudstone (JK, CB) is likely a result of N2 fixation to nitrate generated by thermal shock from impact or volcanic plume lightning on ancient Mars. Fixed nitrogen could have facilitated the development of a primitive nitrogen cycle on the surface of ancient Mars, potentially providing a biochemically accessible source of nitrogen.
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Wong MH, Atreya SK, Mahaffy PN, Franz HB, Malespin C, Trainer MG, Stern JC, Conrad PG, Manning HLK, Pepin RO, Becker RH, McKay CP, Owen TC, Navarro-González R, Jones JH, Jakosky BM, Steele A. Isotopes of nitrogen on Mars: Atmospheric measurements by Curiosity's mass spectrometer. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 2013; 40:6033-6037. [PMID: 26074632 PMCID: PMC4459194 DOI: 10.1002/2013gl057840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 11/09/2013] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
[1] The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) measured a Mars atmospheric14N/15N ratio of 173 ± 11 on sol 341 of the mission, agreeing with Viking's measurement of 168 ± 17. The MSL/SAM value was based on Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer measurements of an enriched atmospheric sample, with CO2 and H2O removed. Doubly ionized nitrogen data at m/z 14 and 14.5 had the highest signal/background ratio, with results confirmed by m/z 28 and 29 data. Gases in SNC meteorite glasses have been interpreted as mixtures containing a Martian atmospheric component, based partly on distinctive14N/15N and40Ar/14N ratios. Recent MSL/SAM measurements of the40Ar/14N ratio (0.51 ± 0.01) are incompatible with the Viking ratio (0.35 ± 0.08). The meteorite mixing line is more consistent with the atmospheric composition measured by Viking than by MSL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Wong
- Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Astronomy Department, University of CaliforniaBerkeley, California, USA
| | - Sushil K Atreya
- Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Paul N Mahaffy
- Code 699, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Heather B Franz
- Code 699, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Charles Malespin
- Code 699, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jennifer C Stern
- Code 699, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Pamela G Conrad
- Code 699, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Robert O Pepin
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Richard H Becker
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Tobias C Owen
- Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai‘i at MānoaHonolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | | | | | | | - Andrew Steele
- Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of WashingtonWashington, District of Columbia, USA
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Humayun M, Nemchin A, Zanda B, Hewins RH, Grange M, Kennedy A, Lorand JP, Göpel C, Fieni C, Pont S, Deldicque D. Origin and age of the earliest Martian crust from meteorite NWA 7533. Nature 2013; 503:513-6. [PMID: 24256724 DOI: 10.1038/nature12764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The ancient cratered terrain of the southern highlands of Mars is thought to hold clues to the planet's early differentiation, but until now no meteoritic regolith breccias have been recovered from Mars. Here we show that the meteorite Northwest Africa (NWA) 7533 (paired with meteorite NWA 7034) is a polymict breccia consisting of a fine-grained interclast matrix containing clasts of igneous-textured rocks and fine-grained clast-laden impact melt rocks. High abundances of meteoritic siderophiles (for example nickel and iridium) found throughout the rock reach a level in the fine-grained portions equivalent to 5 per cent CI chondritic input, which is comparable to the highest levels found in lunar breccias. Furthermore, analyses of three leucocratic monzonite clasts show a correlation between nickel, iridium and magnesium consistent with differentiation from impact melts. Compositionally, all the fine-grained material is alkalic basalt, chemically identical (except for sulphur, chlorine and zinc) to soils from Gusev crater. Thus, we propose that NWA 7533 is a Martian regolith breccia. It contains zircons for which we measured an age of 4,428 ± 25 million years, which were later disturbed 1,712 ± 85 million years ago. This evidence for early crustal differentiation implies that the Martian crust, and its volatile inventory, formed in about the first 100 million years of Martian history, coeval with earliest crust formation on the Moon and the Earth. In addition, incompatible element abundances in clast-laden impact melt rocks and interclast matrix provide a geochemical estimate of the average thickness of the Martian crust (50 kilometres) comparable to that estimated geophysically.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Humayun
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, and National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, USA
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Stolper EM, Baker MB, Newcombe ME, Schmidt ME, Treiman AH, Cousin A, Dyar MD, Fisk MR, Gellert R, King PL, Leshin L, Maurice S, McLennan SM, Minitti ME, Perrett G, Rowland S, Sautter V, Wiens RC, Kemppinen O, Bridges N, Johnson JR, Cremers D, Bell JF, Edgar L, Farmer J, Godber A, Wadhwa M, Wellington D, McEwan I, Newman C, Richardson M, Charpentier A, Peret L, Blank J, Weigle G, Li S, Milliken R, Robertson K, Sun V, Edwards C, Ehlmann B, Farley K, Griffes J, Grotzinger J, Miller H, Pilorget C, Rice M, Siebach K, Stack K, Brunet C, Hipkin V, Léveillé R, Marchand G, Sánchez PS, Favot L, Cody G, Steele A, Flückiger L, Lees D, Nefian A, Martin M, Gailhanou M, Westall F, Israël G, Agard C, Baroukh J, Donny C, Gaboriaud A, Guillemot P, Lafaille V, Lorigny E, Paillet A, Pérez R, Saccoccio M, Yana C, Armiens‐Aparicio C, Rodríguez JC, Blázquez IC, Gómez FG, Gómez-Elvira J, Hettrich S, Malvitte AL, Jiménez MM, Martínez-Frías J, Martín-Soler J, Martín-Torres FJ, Jurado AM, Mora-Sotomayor L, Caro GM, López SN, Peinado-González V, Pla-García J, Manfredi JAR, Romeral-Planelló JJ, Fuentes SAS, Martinez ES, Redondo JT, Urqui-O'Callaghan R, Mier MPZ, Chipera S, Lacour JL, Mauchien P, Sirven JB, Manning H, Fairén A, Hayes A, Joseph J, Squyres S, Sullivan R, Thomas P, Dupont A, Lundberg A, Melikechi N, Mezzacappa A, DeMarines J, Grinspoon D, Reitz G, Prats B, Atlaskin E, Genzer M, Harri AM, Haukka H, Kahanpää H, Kauhanen J, Kemppinen O, Paton M, Polkko J, Schmidt W, Siili T, Fabre C, Wray J, Wilhelm MB, Poitrasson F, Patel K, Gorevan S, Indyk S, Paulsen G, Gupta S, Bish D, Schieber J, Gondet B, Langevin Y, Geffroy C, Baratoux D, Berger G, Cros A, d’Uston C, Forni O, Gasnault O, Lasue J, Lee QM, Meslin PY, Pallier E, Parot Y, Pinet P, Schröder S, Toplis M, Lewin É, Brunner W, Heydari E, Achilles C, Oehler D, Sutter B, Cabane M, Coscia D, Israël G, Szopa C, Teinturier S, Dromart G, Robert F, Le Mouélic S, Mangold N, Nachon M, Buch A, Stalport F, Coll P, François P, Raulin F, Cameron J, Clegg S, DeLapp D, Dingler R, Jackson RS, Johnstone S, Lanza N, Little C, Nelson T, Williams RB, Kirkland L, Baker B, Cantor B, Caplinger M, Davis S, Duston B, Edgett K, Fay D, Hardgrove C, Harker D, Herrera P, Jensen E, Kennedy MR, Krezoski G, Krysak D, Lipkaman L, Malin M, McCartney E, McNair S, Nixon B, Posiolova L, Ravine M, Salamon A, Saper L, Stoiber K, Supulver K, Van Beek J, Van Beek T, Zimdar R, French KL, Iagnemma K, Miller K, Summons R, Goesmann F, Goetz W, Hviid S, Johnson M, Lefavor M, Lyness E, Breves E, Fassett C, Blake DF, Bristow T, DesMarais D, Edwards L, Haberle R, Hoehler T, Hollingsworth J, Kahre M, Keely L, McKay C, Wilhelm MB, Bleacher L, Brinckerhoff W, Choi D, Conrad P, Dworkin JP, Eigenbrode J, Floyd M, Freissinet C, Garvin J, Glavin D, Harpold D, Mahaffy P, Martin DK, McAdam A, Pavlov A, Raaen E, Smith MD, Stern J, Tan F, Trainer M, Meyer M, Posner A, Voytek M, Anderson RC, Aubrey A, Beegle LW, Behar A, Blaney D, Brinza D, Calef F, Christensen L, Crisp J, DeFlores L, Ehlmann B, Feldman J, Feldman S, Flesch G, Hurowitz J, Jun I, Keymeulen D, Maki J, Mischna M, Morookian JM, Parker T, Pavri B, Schoppers M, Sengstacken A, Simmonds JJ, Spanovich N, Juarez MDLT, Vasavada A, Webster CR, Yen A, Archer PD, Cucinotta F, Jones JH, Ming D, Morris RV, Niles P, Rampe E, Nolan T, Radziemski L, Barraclough B, Bender S, Berman D, Dobrea EN, Tokar R, Vaniman D, Williams RME, Yingst A, Lewis K, Cleghorn T, Huntress W, Manhès G, Hudgins J, Olson T, Stewart N, Sarrazin P, Grant J, Vicenzi E, Wilson SA, Bullock M, Ehresmann B, Hamilton V, Hassler D, Peterson J, Rafkin S, Zeitlin C, Fedosov F, Golovin D, Karpushkina N, Kozyrev A, Litvak M, Malakhov A, Mitrofanov I, Mokrousov M, Nikiforov S, Prokhorov V, Sanin A, Tretyakov V, Varenikov A, Vostrukhin A, Kuzmin R, Clark B, Wolff M, Botta O, Drake D, Bean K, Lemmon M, Schwenzer SP, Anderson RB, Herkenhoff K, Lee EM, Sucharski R, Hernández MÁDP, Ávalos JJB, Ramos M, Jones A, Kim MH, Malespin C, Plante I, Muller JP, Navarro-González R, Ewing R, Boynton W, Downs R, Fitzgibbon M, Harshman K, Morrison S, Dietrich W, Kortmann O, Palucis M, Sumner DY, Williams A, Lugmair G, Wilson MA, Rubin D, Jakosky B, Balic-Zunic T, Frydenvang J, Jensen JK, Kinch K, Koefoed A, Madsen MB, Stipp SLS, Boyd N, Campbell JL, Pradler I, VanBommel S, Jacob S, Owen T, Atlaskin E, Savijärvi H, Boehm E, Böttcher S, Burmeister S, Guo J, Köhler J, García CM, Mueller-Mellin R, Wimmer-Schweingruber R, Bridges JC, McConnochie T, Benna M, Franz H, Bower H, Brunner A, Blau H, Boucher T, Carmosino M, Atreya S, Elliott H, Halleaux D, Rennó N, Wong M, Pepin R, Elliott B, Spray J, Thompson L, Gordon S, Newsom H, Ollila A, Williams J, Vasconcelos P, Bentz J, Nealson K, Popa R, Kah LC, Moersch J, Tate C, Day M, Kocurek G, Hallet B, Sletten R, Francis R, McCullough E, Cloutis E, ten Kate IL, Kuzmin R, Arvidson R, Fraeman A, Scholes D, Slavney S, Stein T, Ward J, Berger J, Moores JE. The Petrochemistry of Jake_M: A Martian Mugearite. Science 2013; 341:1239463. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1239463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - M. E. Schmidt
- Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2T 3V8, Canada
| | - A. H. Treiman
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX 77058, USA
| | - A. Cousin
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
- Institut de Recherches en Astrophysique et Planétologie, 31028 Toulouse, France
| | - M. D. Dyar
- Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - M. R. Fisk
- Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - R. Gellert
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - P. L. King
- Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - L. Leshin
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - S. Maurice
- Institut de Recherches en Astrophysique et Planétologie, 31028 Toulouse, France
| | - S. M. McLennan
- The State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - M. E. Minitti
- Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 20723, USA
| | - G. Perrett
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - S. Rowland
- University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - V. Sautter
- Laboratoire de Minéralogie et Cosmochimie du Muséum, 75005 Paris, France
| | - R. C. Wiens
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
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Mahaffy PR, Webster CR, Atreya SK, Franz H, Wong M, Conrad PG, Harpold D, Jones JJ, Leshin LA, Manning H, Owen T, Pepin RO, Squyres S, Trainer M, Kemppinen O, Bridges N, Johnson JR, Minitti M, Cremers D, Bell JF, Edgar L, Farmer J, Godber A, Wadhwa M, Wellington D, McEwan I, Newman C, Richardson M, Charpentier A, Peret L, King P, Blank J, Weigle G, Schmidt M, Li S, Milliken R, Robertson K, Sun V, Baker M, Edwards C, Ehlmann B, Farley K, Griffes J, Grotzinger J, Miller H, Newcombe M, Pilorget C, Rice M, Siebach K, Stack K, Stolper E, Brunet C, Hipkin V, Leveille R, Marchand G, Sanchez PS, Favot L, Cody G, Steele A, Fluckiger L, Lees D, Nefian A, Martin M, Gailhanou M, Westall F, Israel G, Agard C, Baroukh J, Donny C, Gaboriaud A, Guillemot P, Lafaille V, Lorigny E, Paillet A, Perez R, Saccoccio M, Yana C, Armiens-Aparicio C, Rodriguez JC, Blazquez IC, Gomez FG, Gomez-Elvira J, Hettrich S, Malvitte AL, Jimenez MM, Martinez-Frias J, Martin-Soler J, Martin-Torres FJ, Jurado AM, Mora-Sotomayor L, Caro GM, Lopez SN, Peinado-Gonzalez V, Pla-Garcia J, Manfredi JAR, Romeral-Planello JJ, Fuentes SAS, Martinez ES, Redondo JT, Urqui-O'Callaghan R, Mier MPZ, Chipera S, Lacour JL, Mauchien P, Sirven JB, Fairen A, Hayes A, Joseph J, Sullivan R, Thomas P, Dupont A, Lundberg A, Melikechi N, Mezzacappa A, DeMarines J, Grinspoon D, Reitz G, Prats B, Atlaskin E, Genzer M, Harri AM, Haukka H, Kahanpaa H, Kauhanen J, Kemppinen O, Paton M, Polkko J, Schmidt W, Siili T, Fabre C, Wray J, Wilhelm MB, Poitrasson F, Patel K, Gorevan S, Indyk S, Paulsen G, Gupta S, Bish D, Schieber J, Gondet B, Langevin Y, Geffroy C, Baratoux D, Berger G, Cros A, d'Uston C, Forni O, Gasnault O, Lasue J, Lee QM, Maurice S, Meslin PY, Pallier E, Parot Y, Pinet P, Schroder S, Toplis M, Lewin E, Brunner W, Heydari E, Achilles C, Oehler D, Sutter B, Cabane M, Coscia D, Israel G, Szopa C, Dromart G, Robert F, Sautter V, Le Mouelic S, Mangold N, Nachon M, Buch A, Stalport F, Coll P, Francois P, Raulin F, Teinturier S, Cameron J, Clegg S, Cousin A, DeLapp D, Dingler R, Jackson RS, Johnstone S, Lanza N, Little C, Nelson T, Wiens RC, Williams RB, Jones A, Kirkland L, Treiman A, Baker B, Cantor B, Caplinger M, Davis S, Duston B, Edgett K, Fay D, Hardgrove C, Harker D, Herrera P, Jensen E, Kennedy MR, Krezoski G, Krysak D, Lipkaman L, Malin M, McCartney E, McNair S, Nixon B, Posiolova L, Ravine M, Salamon A, Saper L, Stoiber K, Supulver K, Van Beek J, Van Beek T, Zimdar R, French KL, Iagnemma K, Miller K, Summons R, Goesmann F, Goetz W, Hviid S, Johnson M, Lefavor M, Lyness E, Breves E, Dyar MD, Fassett C, Blake DF, Bristow T, DesMarais D, Edwards L, Haberle R, Hoehler T, Hollingsworth J, Kahre M, Keely L, McKay C, Wilhelm MB, Bleacher L, Brinckerhoff W, Choi D, Dworkin JP, Eigenbrode J, Floyd M, Freissinet C, Garvin J, Glavin D, Jones A, Martin DK, McAdam A, Pavlov A, Raaen E, Smith MD, Stern J, Tan F, Meyer M, Posner A, Voytek M, Anderson RC, Aubrey A, Beegle LW, Behar A, Blaney D, Brinza D, Calef F, Christensen L, Crisp JA, DeFlores L, Ehlmann B, Feldman J, Feldman S, Flesch G, Hurowitz J, Jun I, Keymeulen D, Maki J, Mischna M, Morookian JM, Parker T, Pavri B, Schoppers M, Sengstacken A, Simmonds JJ, Spanovich N, Juarez MDLT, Vasavada AR, Yen A, Archer PD, Cucinotta F, Ming D, Morris RV, Niles P, Rampe E, Nolan T, Fisk M, Radziemski L, Barraclough B, Bender S, Berman D, Dobrea EN, Tokar R, Vaniman D, Williams RME, Yingst A, Lewis K, Cleghorn T, Huntress W, Manhes G, Hudgins J, Olson T, Stewart N, Sarrazin P, Grant J, Vicenzi E, Wilson SA, Bullock M, Ehresmann B, Hamilton V, Hassler D, Peterson J, Rafkin S, Zeitlin C, Fedosov F, Golovin D, Karpushkina N, Kozyrev A, Litvak M, Malakhov A, Mitrofanov I, Mokrousov M, Nikiforov S, Prokhorov V, Sanin A, Tretyakov V, Varenikov A, Vostrukhin A, Kuzmin R, Clark B, Wolff M, McLennan S, Botta O, Drake D, Bean K, Lemmon M, Schwenzer SP, Anderson RB, Herkenhoff K, Lee EM, Sucharski R, Hernandez MADP, Avalos JJB, Ramos M, Kim MH, Malespin C, Plante I, Muller JP, Navarro-Gonzalez R, Ewing R, Boynton W, Downs R, Fitzgibbon M, Harshman K, Morrison S, Dietrich W, Kortmann O, Palucis M, Sumner DY, Williams A, Lugmair G, Wilson MA, Rubin D, Jakosky B, Balic-Zunic T, Frydenvang J, Jensen JK, Kinch K, Koefoed A, Madsen MB, Stipp SLS, Boyd N, Campbell JL, Gellert R, Perrett G, Pradler I, VanBommel S, Jacob S, Rowland S, Atlaskin E, Savijarvi H, Boehm E, Bottcher S, Burmeister S, Guo J, Kohler J, Garcia CM, Mueller-Mellin R, Wimmer-Schweingruber R, Bridges JC, McConnochie T, Benna M, Bower H, Brunner A, Blau H, Boucher T, Carmosino M, Elliott H, Halleaux D, Renno N, Elliott B, Spray J, Thompson L, Gordon S, Newsom H, Ollila A, Williams J, Vasconcelos P, Bentz J, Nealson K, Popa R, Kah LC, Moersch J, Tate C, Day M, Kocurek G, Hallet B, Sletten R, Francis R, McCullough E, Cloutis E, ten Kate IL, Kuzmin R, Arvidson R, Fraeman A, Scholes D, Slavney S, Stein T, Ward J, Berger J, Moores JE. Abundance and Isotopic Composition of Gases in the Martian Atmosphere from the Curiosity Rover. Science 2013; 341:263-6. [PMID: 23869014 DOI: 10.1126/science.1237966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Baziotis IP, Liu Y, DeCarli PS, Jay Melosh H, McSween HY, Bodnar RJ, Taylor LA. The Tissint Martian meteorite as evidence for the largest impact excavation. Nat Commun 2013; 4:1404. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Agee CB, Wilson NV, McCubbin FM, Ziegler K, Polyak VJ, Sharp ZD, Asmerom Y, Nunn MH, Shaheen R, Thiemens MH, Steele A, Fogel ML, Bowden R, Glamoclija M, Zhang Z, Elardo SM. Unique Meteorite from Early Amazonian Mars: Water-Rich Basaltic Breccia Northwest Africa 7034. Science 2013; 339:780-5. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1228858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 295] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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