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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Laboratory and field studies of stratospheric aerosols: Phase changes under high supersaturation

It is well known that water in the form of isolated small droplets supercool as much as 40 C below their equilibrium melting point. Solutions similarly supercool (with respect to water) and supersaturate (with respect of the solute). Experiments are described in which bulk solutions typical of atmospheric aerosols (nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrates; ammonium sulfate; ammonium bisulfate; sodium chloride) are supercooled and/or supersaturated and nucleated to initiate crystal growth. Supersaturation of 300 percent is readily attainable, with linear growth of crystals increasing roughly as (supercooling/supersaturation)sup 2. The implication of the experiments is that the situation of metastability in polar stratosphere clouds is very likely, with nucleation only occuring under a high degree of supercooling or supersaturation.

Hallet, John↗
NASA NTRS2000

Identification of Crystalline Minerals in Volcanic Alteration Products and Applications to the Surface of Mars

Visible, infrared and Mossbauer spectra have been measured for fine-grained alteration products of volcanic tephra and ash. Comparison of the spectral and chemical properties for different size separates and related samples provides information about the crystalline materials in these samples and how they may have formed. Hydrothermal processes can increase the alteration rates of the primary minerals and glass and provide S, Fe and/or water for formation of sulfates and hydrated minerals. Identification of crystalline alteration minerals on Mars may indicate hydrothermal alteration and sites of interesting geologic processes.

Bishop, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Quantitative Mineralogical Analysis of Mars Analogues Using CHEMIN Data and Rietveld Refinement

Mineralogical analysis is a critical component of planetary surface exploration. Chemical data alone leave serious gaps in our understanding of the surfaces of planets where complex minerals may form in combination with H, S, and halogens. On such planets (e.g., Mars) a single chemical composition may represent a range of mineral assemblages. For example, Viking chemical analyses of excavated duricrust indicate that Mg and S are correlated and ~10% MgSO4 (anhydrous weight) is a likely cementing agent. Pathfinder chemical data support a similar abundance of MgSO4 in the most altered materials. However, there are many possible Mg-sulfates with widely varying hydration states (including dehydrated and 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-hydrates). In addition, other sulfate minerals such as gypsum (CaSO4 .2H2O) and other salts containing Cl may also exist. X-ray diffraction (XRD) has the ability to decipher mixtures of these phases that would be difficult, if not impossible to unravel using only chemical or spectral data.

Bish, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Gusev Crater on Mars: Wet and Dry

The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has traversed over 7.5 km in 1470 sols of operations at the Gusev Crater landing site. Chemical and mineralogical evidence from approximately 200 in-situ samples indicate various degrees of exposure to liquid water, from wet and saturated to dry and unaltered. (1) Six samples with concentrations of amorphous silica between 60 and 95 wt% were discovered in a small valley less than 50 meters in length. Associated enrichments in titanium oxide, relatively insoluble at low pH, suggest that these silica deposits formed as a result of acidic leaching processes. Liquid water interactions with these surface materials were necessary to remove cations solubilized in the low pH environment or to concentrate silica in solution prior to precipitation. (2) Hydrated ferric sulfates are found in subsurface deposits which have the unmistakable chemical signatures of nearby rocks. The movement of hydrothermal fluids and/or fumarolic vapors through local rocks prior to precipitation of these materials is suggested by these observations. (3) Goethite (alpha-FeOOH), a mineral phase which requires water to form, represents 20% to 35% of the iron in numerous rock samples (Clovis Class) on the West Spur of the Columbia Hills. Alteration of iron under aqueous conditions is clearly indicated by this presence of goethite. (4) Nearly isochemical signatures are found in elemental analyses of over ten distinct samples (Wishstone/Watchtower class rocks), yet the ratio of ferric iron to total iron varies from 0.4 to 0.95. Small quantities of water, insufficient to flush cations from the samples, were likely responsible for this weathering. (5) Bromine, a trace element readily mobilized by water, is found in high concentrations in certain rock interiors and is enhanced in subsurface soils, consistent with transport to localized cold traps by water thin-films. (6) Also relevant to the characterizing the role of liquid water is the discovery of an areally extensive ultramafic sequence of rocks where over 70% of the iron is in unaltered olivine and the ferric to total iron ratio is 0.1. This result indicates that certain materials at the martian surface have been protected from aqueous alteration.

Yen, Albert↗
NASA NTRS2009

Evolved Gas Measurements Planned for the Lower Layers of the Gale Crater Mound with the Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Suite

The lower mound strata of Gale Crater provide a diverse set of chemical environments for exploration by the varied tools of the Curiosity Rover of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mission. Orbital imaging and spectroscopy clearly reveal distinct layers of hydrated minerals, sulfates, and clays with abundant evidence of a variety of fluvial processes. The three instruments of the MSL Sample Analysis at aMars (SAM) investigation, the Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS), the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS), and the Gas Chromatograph (GC) are designed to analyze either atmospheric gases or volatiles thermally evolved or chemically extracted from powdered rock or soil. The presence or absence of organic compounds in these layers is of great interest since such an in situ search for this type of record has not been successfully implemented since the mid-60s Viking GCMS experiments. However, regardless of the outcome of the analysis for organics, the abundance and isotopic composition of thermally evolved inorganic compounds should also provide a rich data set to complement the mineralogical and elemental information provided by other MSL instruments. In addition, these evolved gas analysis (EGA) experiments will help test sedimentary models proposed by Malin and Edgett (2000) and then further developed by Milliken et al (2010) for Gale Crater. In the SAM EGA experiments the evolution temperatures of H2O, CO2, SO2, O2, or other simple compounds as the samples are heated in a helium stream to 1000 C provides information on mineral types and their associations. The isotopic composition of O, H, C, and S can be precisely determined in several evolved compounds and compared with the present day atmosphere. Such SAM results might be able to test mineralogical evidence of changing sedimentary and alteration processes over an extended period of time. For example, Bibring et al (2006) have suggested such a major shift from early nonacidic to later acidic alteration. We will illustrate through a variety of evolved gas experiments implemented under SAM-like gas flow and temperature ramp conditions on terrestrial analog minerals on high fidelity Sam breadboards the type of chemical information we expect SAM to provide.

Mahaffy, Paul↗
NASA NTRS2014

Elemental Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars

Sedimentary rocks examined by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay, Mars, were derived from sources that evolved from an approximately average martian crustal composition to one influenced by alkaline basalts. No evidence of chemical weathering is preserved, indicating arid, possibly cold, paleoclimates and rapid erosion and deposition. The absence of predicted geochemical variations indicates that magnetite and phyllosilicates formed by diagenesis under low-temperature, circumneutral pH, rock-dominated aqueous conditions. Analyses of diagenetic features (including concretions, raised ridges, and fractures) at high spatial resolution indicate that they are composed of iron- and halogen-rich components, magnesium-iron-chlorine-rich components, and hydrated calcium sulfates, respectively. Composition of a cross-cutting dike-like feature is consistent with sedimentary intrusion. The geochemistry of these sedimentary rocks provides further evidence for diverse depositional and diagenetic sedimentary environments during the early history of Mars.

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.↗
NASA NTRS2016

STXM-XANES Analysis of Organic Matter in Dark Clasts and Halite Crystals in Zag and Monahans Meteorites

Zag and Monahans meteorites (H5) contains xenolithic dark clasts and halite (NaCl) crystals [e.g., 1]. The proposed source of the H chondrites is asteroid 6 Hebe [2]. The modern orbits of 1 Ceres and 6 Hebe essentially cross, with aphelion/perihelion of Ceres and Hebe of 2.99/2.55 and 2.91/1.94 AU (Astronomical Units), respectively. Therefore, Ceres might be the source of the clasts and halite in Zag and Monahans meteorites. Recent results from NASA's Dawn mission shows that bright spots in Ceres's crater may be hydrated magnesium sulfate with some water ice, and an average global surface contains ammoniated phyllosilicates that is likely of outer Solar System origin. One dark clast and all halite crystals in Zag and Monahans meteorites contain carbon-rich particles. We report organic analyses of these carbon-rich particles using carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen X-ray absorption near edge structure (C-, N-, and O-XANES), in order to constrain the origin of the clast and halite crystals.

Kebukawa, Y.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Characterizing the Effects of Thermal Profile and Gas Environment on the Heat Treatment of JSC-1A Lunar Simulant Using Combined Thermogravimetry and Mass Spectroscopy

As NASA strives towards a long duration presence on the Moon, it has become increasingly important to learn how to better utilize resources from the lunar surface for everything from habitats, vehicle infrastructure, and chemical extraction. To that end, a variety of lunar simulants have been sourced from terrestrially available volcanic minerals and glass as Apollo regolith is a finite resource unavailable for experimentation needing large masses. However, while mineralogy and chemical composition can approach that of lunar material in these simulants, there are still distinct non-lunar phases such as hydrates, carbonates, sulfates, and clays that can cause simulants to behave distinctly non-lunar in a variety of processing conditions that would ideally be applied to lunar material. Notably, severe glassy bubbling has been documented in a variety of vacuum sintering experiments on JSC-1A lunar Maria simulant heated via microwaves. The origins of this outgassing have not been well understood, but are normally attributed to the decomposition of non-lunar contaminates intrinsic to virtually all terrestrially sourced simulants. As such, a series of controlled environmental tests were performed to ascertain the origins of the high temperature outgassing and to develop heat treatments that can drive JSC-1A closer to lunar composition and behavior. It was found that in JSC-1A that distinct gas evolutions of water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide occur in both inert gas and vacuum. Additionally, the presence of hydrogen during heat treatments was shown to dramatically change gas evolutions, leading to distinctly more lunar-like composition and behavior from JSC-1A simulant.

sinter↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Characterizing the Effects of Thermal Profile and Gas Environment on the Heat Treatment of JSC-1A Lunar Simulant Using Combined Thermogravimetry and Mass Spectroscopy

As NASA strives towards a long duration presence on the Moon, it has become increasingly important to learn how to better utilize resources from the lunar surface for everything from habitats, vehicle infrastructure, and chemical extraction. To that end, a variety of lunar simulants have been sourced from terrestrially available volcanic minerals and glass as Apollo regolith is a finite resource unavailable for experimentation needing large masses. However, while mineralogy and chemical composition can approach that of lunar material in these simulants, there are still distinct non-lunar phases such as hydrates, carbonates, sulfates, and clays that can cause simulants to behave distinctly non-lunar in a variety of processing conditions that would ideally be applied to lunar material. Notably, severe glassy bubbling has been documented in a variety of vacuum sintering experiments on JSC-1A lunar Maria simulant heated via microwaves. The origins of this outgassing have not been well understood, but are normally attributed to the decomposition of non-lunar contaminates intrinsic to virtually all terrestrially sourced simulants. As such, a series of controlled environmental tests were performed to ascertain the origins of the high temperature outgassing and to develop heat treatments that can drive JSC-1A closer to lunar composition and behavior. It was found that in JSC-1A that distinct gas evolutions of water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide occur in both inert gas and vacuum. Additionally, the presence of hydrogen during heat treatments was shown to dramatically change gas evolutions, leading to distinctly more lunar-like composition and behavior from JSC-1A simulant.

sinter↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Mars Science Laboratory Mastcam Multispectral Investigation of Drill Targets From the Beginning of the Clay Sulfate Transition to Marker Band Valley

In March, 2021 the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover officially started exploring the Clay Sulfate Transition (CST). This area of Mt. Sharp has been interpreted to have hydrated Mg-sulfate spectral signatures in CRISM orbital data, and it no longer has the strong phyllosilicate spectral signature as the previous Glen Torridon region. Recently, the Curiosity rover has also encountered the marker band that was also identified in orbital data [1,3]. This shift from phyllosilicates to hydrated Mg-sulfates suggests a major change in the environmental conditions during which these rocks were deposited. This abstract focuses on changes seen in the Mastcam multispectral data between the CST drill targets.

S R Jacob↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

SHERLOC Investigations at the Máaz and Séítah formations within Jezero crater

Introduction: The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument combines microscopic imaging, native fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy to better understand the mineral and chemical makeup of rocks on the martian surface. Native fluorescence emissions from aromatic organic species allow for detection and classification of aromatic organic molecules, whereas Raman scattered photons from molecules allow identification of functional groups of organics, chemicals, and minerals. These signatures are obtained on a 100 micron spatial scale and collocated to images so textures, minerals and chemicals can all be compared [1]. Results: SHERLOC has been operating on Mars since February 18, 2021. As of this writing, we have analyzed 3 natural surfaces, and 5 abraded rock patches created during the Crater Floor Campaign within Jezero crater [2]. The Guillaumes target (from the Roubion outcrop, Roubion member of the Máaz Formation) is dominated by Ca-sulfate with patches of perchlorate. The Bellegarde target (from the Rochette outcrop, Rochette member of the Máaz Formation) exhibits Raman peaks that match hydrated Ca-sulfate, amorphous/microcrystalline silicate (AMS), carbonate, and phosphate phases. A fluorescence doublet at ~305 and ~325 nm was detected and is most likely due to indigenous organic material in the sample. The Garde target (from the Bastide outcrop, Bastide member of the Séítah Formation) is dominated by olivine and carbonate with AMS occurring across the material. The Dourbes target (from the Brac outcrop, Bastide member of the Séítah Formation) is dominated by olivine and shows minor amounts of carbonate, hydrated Ca-sulfate, and AMS. The Quartier target exhibits a large sulfate feature, as well as carbonate, perchlorate, olivine and a fluorescence doublet at 305 and 325 nm and is very similar to that observed at Bellegarde. In each of these samples we have identified fluorescence features that are likely aromatic organics native to the rock interiors. Acknowledgments: This work was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, The California Institute of Technology under a contract from NASA.

L W Beegle↗
NASA NTRS2016

Similarities Across Mars: Acidic Fluids at Both Meridiani Planum and Gale Crater in the Formation of Magnesium-Nickel Sulfates

In-situ identification of sulfates at the martian surface by the Mars Exploration Rovers and the Mars Science Laboratory have included calcium sulfates with various states of hydration (gypsum, bassanite, anhydrite), iron sulfates of likely fumarolic origin, massive deposits of iron hydroxysulfates indicative of an acidic history, and minor occurrences of magnesium sulfates. Recent measurements by the Opportunity and Curiosity Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometers (APXS) have indicated the presence of Ni-substituted Mg-sulfates at the Meridiani Planum and Gale Crater landing sites. The Opportunity rover has traversed nearly 43 km and is currently exploring the impact breccias of the rim of Endeavour crater, near a location where signatures of aqueous alteration have been established from orbit. APXS analyses of subsurface materials excavated by a rover wheel show clear evidence for a Mg(Ni)-sulfate with Mg:Ni (is) approximately 100:1 (molar). On the other side of the planet, Curiosity is continuing its climb up Mount Sharp after driving (is) approximately 13 km since landing. Over the last 4 km of the traverse, there have been multiple chemical analyses of erosionally-resistant nodules and dendritic features in a finely laminated mudstone unit which also indicate Mg(Ni)-sulfate (Mg:Ni (is) approximately 30:1, molar). The geologic settings for the Endeavour rim and the Mount Sharp mudstones are clearly different, but similar formation conditions for these sulfates may be possible. Ni(2+) readily substitutes for Mg(2+) in a variety of geochemical processes due to their comparable ionic radii. The availability of soluble Ni at the time of Mg-sulfate precipitation suggests acidic solutions. The fluids responsible for alteration in the Endeavour rim and for the formation of nodules in Gale mudstones may have had similar chemical characteristics at the time the Mg-sulfates were formed.

Yen, Albert S.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Stratigraphic Change from Ca-Sulfate to Mg-Sulfate in the Sedimentary Bedrock of Gale Crater, Mars: Recent Results from Curiosity’s APXS

Curiosity’s APXS instrument has been quantifying sulfates over >30 km of traverse in Gale crater. The rover recently arrived at sedimentary strata where orbital data predicted hydrated Mg-sulfates that may record a change to a drier paleoenvironment. The sequence of strata is in the Marker Band Valley (MBV), the ~10-m-thick, metal-rich Marker Band (MB), and strata above the MB. Here, we report recent sulfate observations by the APXS and provide constraints on the occurrence of Mg-sulfate and the implications for paleoenvironment interpretations. In sedimentary strata below the MBV, Mg-sulfate enrichment (~5-10 wt%) is generally limited to larger diagenetic nodules (~1-3 cm). Ca is positively correlated with S at proportions consistent with Ca-sulfate addition to the bedrock matrix. S variation is thus controlled primarily by Ca-sulfate, which increases ~30% in transitional units below the MBV. The MBV contains the first evidence of Mg-sulfate enrichment in the bedrock matrix, confirmed by the detection of crystalline Mg-sulfate by CheMin. The MBV bedrock has the same overall bulk composition as the underlying Mt. Sharp gp. strata, but with an additional ~5-15 wt% Mg-sulfate. The MB has contrasting sulfate content: (1) targets with very high concentrations of MnO (1.5 wt%), FeO (47 wt%), and Zn (2.2 wt%) are depleted in S and (2) targets with lower metal content have evidence of Mg-sulfate addition. Strata above the MB have a bulk composition that is distinct from other rocks in Gale. For example, the bedrock has molar Fe/Mn (50-60) and Cr/Ti (0.4-0.7) similar to basaltic soil, but ~3X higher Zn and high Ge (50 ppm). Median SO3 above the MB (15 wt%) is higher than the MBV (14 wt%) as well as strata below the MBV (~8 wt%). S does not correlate with Ca or Mg above the MBV. MgO (~9 wt%) is higher than below the MBV (~5 wt%) and the SO3/MgO (1.7) is in the same range as the Mg-sulfate-bearing MBV, suggesting Mg-sulfate enrichment. APXS data indicate that the MBV and above the MB preserve a relatively sharp vertical transition (~5-10 m) from Ca-sulfate to Mg-sulfate in the rock matrix. The sharp contacts with the sulfate-depleted MB and the notable change in bulk composition above the MB may indicate a complex depositional and/or diagenetic history under conditions where enrichments in the highly soluble Mg-sulfates were ultimately preserved.

Jeffrey Allan Berger↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Model for Formation of Dust, Soil and Rock Coatings on Mars: Physical and Chemical Processes on the Martian Surface

This model is one of many possible scenarios to explain the generation of the current surface material on Mars using chemical, magnetic and spectroscopic data From Mars and geologic analogs from terrestrial sites. One basic premise of this model is that the dust/soil units are not derived exclusively from local rocks, but are rather a product of global, and possibly remote, weathering processes. Another assumption in this model is that there are physical and chemical interactions of the atmospheric dust particles and that these two processes create distinctly different results on the surface. Physical processes distribute dust particles on rocks and drift units, forming physically-aggregated layers; these are reversible processes. Chemical reactions of the dust/soil particles create alteration rinds on rock surfaces and cohesive, crusted surface units between rocks, both of which are relatively permanent materials. According to this model the dominant components of the dust/soil particles are derived from alteration of volcanic ash and tephra, and contain primarily nanophase and poorly crystalline ferric oxides/oxyhydroxide phases as well as silicates. These phases are the alteration products that formed in a low moisture environment. These dust/soil particles also contain a smaller amount of material that was exposed to more water and contains crystalline ferric oxides/oxyhydroxides, sulfates and clay silicates. These components could have formed through hydrothermal alteration at steam vents or fumeroles, thermal fluids, or through evaporite deposits. Wet/dry cycling experiments are presented here on mixtures containing poorly crystalline and crystalline ferric oxides/oxyhydroxides, sulfates and silicates that range in size from nanophase to 1-2 pm diameter particles. Cemented products of these soil mixtures are formed in these experiments and variation in the surface texture was observed for samples containing smectites, non-hydrated silicates or sulfates. Reflectance spectra were measured of the initial particulate mixtures, the cemented products and ground versions of the cemented material. The spectral contrast in the visible/near-infrared and mid-infrared regions is significantly reduced for the cemented material compared to the initial soil, and somewhat reduced for the ground, cemented soil compared to the initial soil. The results of this study suggest that diurnal and seasonal cycling on Mars will have a profound effect on the texture and spectral properties of the dust/soil particles on the surface. The model developed in this study provides an explanation for the generation of cemented or crusted soil units and rock coatings on Mars and may explain albedo variations on the surface observed near large rocks or crater rims.

Bishop, Janice↗
NASA NTRS2009

Visible and Near-IR Reflectance Spectra for Smectite, Sulfate And Perchlorate under Dry Conditions for Interpretation of Martian Surface Mineralogy

Visible and near-IR (VNIR) spectral data for the martian surface obtained from orbit by the MRO-CRISM and OMEGA instruments are interpreted as having spectral signatures of H2O/OH-bearing phases, including smectites and other phyllosilicates, sulfates, and high-SiO2 phases [e.g., 1-4]. Interpretations of martian spectral signatures are based on and constrained by spectra that are obtained in the laboratory on samples with known mineralogical compositions and other physicochemical characteristics under, as appropriate, Mars-like environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, and humidity). With respect to environmental conditions, differences in the absolute concentration of atmospheric H2O can effect the hydration state and therefore the spectra signatures of smectite phyllosilicates (solvation H2O) and certain sulfates (hydration H2O) [e.g., 5-7]. We report VNIR spectral data acquired under humid (laboratory air) and dry (dry N2 gas) environments for two natural smectites (nontronite API-33A and saponite SapCa-1) to characterize the effect of solvation H2O on spectral properties. We also report spectral data for the thermal dehydration products of (1) melanterite (FeSO4.7H2O) in both air and dry N2 gas and (2) Mg-perchlorate (Mg(ClO4)2.6H2O) in dry N2 environments. Spectral measurements for samples dehydrated in dry N2 were made without exposing them to humid laboratory air.

Morris, R.V.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Discovery Venera surface: Atmosphere geochemistry experiments mission concept

The phenomenal increase in our understanding of Venus provided by the Magellan Mission has raised a series of focused, fundamental scientific questions about the geochemistry of the surface of Venus, the nature of the lower atmosphere, and the relationship of the lower atmosphere and surface. First, surface geochemical measurements from the Venera/Vega spacecraft showed that widely spaced regions of the venusian plains are made of basalts; thus basalts are significant and may be the only component of the venusian crust. But we lack information on the composition of several key elements of Venus geology: (1) Tessera terrain (which may be outcrops of continental-like non-basaltic crustal material) and steep-sided domes/festoons are promising candidates for non-basaltic geochemically evolved material. The composition of the lower part of the Venusian crust is unknown: however, ejecta from large venusian craters provides us with the possibility of sampling this material on the surface; (2) bulk chemistry (structure and dynamics) of the venusian atmosphere are known. The altitude profiles of water vapor content and minor admixtures relevant to redox conditions in the lower atmosphere (less than 20 km altitude) remain uncertain. Lack of that knowledge means that we do not understand the fine chemical structure of the main mass of the Venusian atmosphere; and (3) thermodynamic models predict that igneous materials on the surface of Venus should react with gases of the venusian atmosphere. But because the water vapor content and redox conditions in the lower atmosphere are not well known, we do not understand the nature of venusian weathering: oxidation, sulfatization, carbonatization, and hydration. The answers to these questions are critical to the understanding of Venus, the most Earth-like of the terrestrial planets.

Surkov, Yuri A.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Zeolite Formation and Weathering Processes in Dry Valleys of Antartica: Martian Analogs

Terrestrial weathering processes in cold-desert climates such as the Dry Valleys of Antarctica may provide an excellent analog to chemical weathering and diagenesis of soils on Mars. Detailed studies of soil development and the chemical and mineralogical alterations occurring within soil columns in Wright Valley, Antarctica show incredible complexity in the upper meter of soil. Previous workers noted the ice-free Dry Valleys are the best terrestrial approximations to contemporary Mars. Images returned from the Pathfinder and Spirit landers show similarities to surfaces observed within the Dry Valleys. Similarities to Mars that exist in these valleys are: mean temperatures always below freezing (-20 C), no rainfall, sparse snowfall-rapidly removed by sublimation, desiccating winds, diurnal freeze-thaw cycles (even during daylight hours), low humidity, oxidative environment, relatively high solar radiation and low magnetic fields . The Dry Valley soils contain irregular distributions and low abundances of soil microorganisms that are somewhat unusual on Earth. Physical processes-such as sand abrasion-are dominant mechanisms of rock weathering in Antarctica. However, chemical weathering is also an important process even in such extreme climates. For example, ionic migration occurs even in frozen soils along liquid films on individual soil particles. It has also been shown that water with liquid-like properties is present in soils at temperatures on the order of approx.-80 C and it has been observed that the percentage of oxidized iron increases with increasing soil age and enrichments in oxidized iron occurs toward the surface. The presence of evaporates is evident and appear similar to "evaporite sites" within the Pathfinder and Spirit sites. Evaporites indicate ionic migration and chemical activity even in the permanently frozen zone. The presence of evaporates indicates that chemical weathering of rocks and possibly soils has been active. Authogenic zeolites have been identified within the soil columns because they are fragile; i.e. they are euhedral, unabraded, and unfractured, strongly suggesting in situ formation. Their presence in Antarctic samples is another indication that diagenic processes are active in cold-desert environments. The presence of zeolites, and other clays along with halites, sulfates, carbonates, and hydrates are to be expected within the soil columns on Mars at the Gusev and Isidis Planitia regions. The presence of such water-bearing minerals beneath the surface supplies one of the requirements to support biological activity on Mars.

Gibson, E. K., Jr.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Assessing Organic Preservation and the Implications for Potential Biosignatures in the Bastide Member of the Séítah Formation, Jezero Crater

Introduction: Olivine has the highest CO2 trapping potential of ultramafic minerals, due to its rapid rate of dissolution and high percentage of divalent cations/unpolymerized silicate tetrahedra [1]. It generates divalent carbonates from CO2 and sequesters CO2 into the mineral matrix of the target lithology. The co-occurrence of olivine and carbonate within abraded targets from the Bastide Member of the Séítah Formation (Fm) of the Jezero crater floor [2] suggests the carbonation of olivine occurred within the mineral matrix hosted in a subsurface system. Hydrothermal origins for the subsurface system are hypothesized from orbital data [3]. This is supported by the detection of hydration features within the rock as well as the carbonate features are solely detected within the abrasion patch but not the rock’s surface. Organic preservation potential of abrasion patches: We incorporated the SHERLOC/WATSON results acquired from the Dourbes, Garde, and Quartier abrasion patches in the Séítah Fm to investigate the organomineral associations, and determine the biosignature preservation potential of these rocks. Dourbes is dominated by olivine and has minor amounts of carbonate, hydrated Ca-sulfate, and amorphous or microcrystalline silicate. Fluorescence features (330-340 nm) are detected in discrete locales and could be consistent with double ring aromatic organic molecules; yet, these features do not appear to be associated with an identified mineral phase. Dark subhedral to euhedral olivine grains within the Garde abrasion patch often co-occur with carbonate-consistent spectral signatures in all analyzed scans. The availability of Fe2+ is a known influence on olivine dissolution rates [1] and SuperCam estimates of the olivine composition (Forsterite-60 average for Sols 202-234) may thereby provide a constraint on the carbonation extent. Carbonated olivine phenocrysts within the matrix may be due to aqueous alteration, as the carbonation of nodules is consistent with observations in other hydrothermal systems and within Martian meteorites (ALH84001) [4]. In comparison, the Quartier abrasion patch represents an extensively altered endmember within the Bastide Member of the Séítah Fm. It contains a fluorescence doublet at 305/325 nm that coexists with multiple species of Na-sulfate and Mg-sulfate, Mg-carbonates, olivine [5]. Aqueous alteration and implications for habitability: The identification of primary and secondary mineral phases observed in the Bastide Member suggests the release of cations from primary ultramafic minerals through aqueous alteration. Within Garde, the carbonate detected appears to be Mg-rich and likely formed from the in situ alteration of Mg-rich olivine within the region as carbonate has only been detected within the rock via in situ analysis. Carbonates derived from abiotic and biotic reactions preserve biosignatures (i.e. indices of habitability) on Earth. The detected carbonate phase found in association with fluorescent features within the rock matrix may also indicate potential organic compounds preserved in a putative hydrothermal system. Fluorescent features (~330 nm) are unique to Garde and Dourbes, though they are co-located to carbonate signatures solely within Garde, and between the light toned minerals. Identification of these fluorescent features may be consistent with 1-2 ring aromatic compounds. The limit of detection for Raman is multiple orders of magnitude greater than the limit of detection required for fluorescence [6]. Implications for provenance: Hydrothermal systems represent disequilibrium chemical conditions that are hypothesized to have supported the emergence of life and also preserve ancient carbon within precipitated carbonates [7]. Hydrothermal system associated carbonates are capable of preserving biosignatures up to an estimated ~3.77 – 4.28 Gya [8]. Thus, carbonated olivine found within the Séítah Fm may represent a high-potential biosignature preserving environment on Mars. The formation of carbonates by an aqueous alteration process, such as carbonation of olivine is also consistent with hypotheses for carbonate within the greater regional-olivine bearing unit [2,3], which contains Garde, Dourbes, and Quartier. Acknowledgments: This work was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, The California Institute of Technology under a contract from NASA. References: [1] Wood et al., (2019) ES&T, 6, 10. [2] Stack, K. et al., (2020) Space Sci Rev, 216, 127. [3] Tarnas, J. et al., (2021) JGR: Planets, 126, 11. [4] Steele et al., (2007) Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 42, 9. [5] Murphy, A.E. et al., (2022) LPSC [6] Bhartia et al., (2021) Space Sci Rev, 217, 58. [7] Luther (2021) GRL, 48, e2021GL094869. [8] Dodd et al., (2017) Nature, 543, 60-64

E L Cardarelli↗