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Oxidation of manganese in an ancient aquifer, Kimberley formation, Gale crater, Mars
Author(s) -
Lanza Nina L.,
Wiens Roger C.,
Arvidson Raymond E.,
Clark Benton C.,
Fischer Woodward W.,
Gellert Ralf,
Grotzinger John P.,
Hurowitz Joel A.,
McLennan Scott M.,
Morris Richard V.,
Rice Melissa S.,
Bell James F.,
Berger Jeffrey A.,
Blaney Diana L.,
Bridges Nathan T.,
Calef Fred,
Campbell John L.,
Clegg Samuel M.,
Cousin Agnes,
Edgett Kenneth S.,
Fabre Cécile,
Fisk Martin R.,
Forni Olivier,
Frydenvang Jens,
Hardy Keian R.,
Hardgrove Craig,
Johnson Jeffrey R.,
Lasue Jeremie,
Le Mouélic Stéphane,
Malin Michael C.,
Mangold Nicolas,
MartìnTorres Javier,
Maurice Sylvestre,
McBride Marie J.,
Ming Douglas W.,
Newsom Horton E.,
Ollila Ann M.,
Sautter Violaine,
Schröder Susanne,
Thompson Lucy M.,
Treiman Allan H.,
VanBommel Scott,
Vaniman David T.,
Zorzano MarìaPaz
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl069109
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , geology , evaporite , impact crater , geochemistry , astrobiology , manganese , atmosphere (unit) , meteorite , earth (classical element) , deposition (geology) , mineralogy , paleontology , sedimentary rock , chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , sediment , mathematical physics , organic chemistry
The Curiosity rover observed high Mn abundances (>25 wt % MnO) in fracture‐filling materials that crosscut sandstones in the Kimberley region of Gale crater, Mars. The correlation between Mn and trace metal abundances plus the lack of correlation between Mn and elements such as S, Cl, and C, reveals that these deposits are Mn oxides rather than evaporites or other salts. On Earth, environments that concentrate Mn and deposit Mn minerals require water and highly oxidizing conditions; hence, these findings suggest that similar processes occurred on Mars. Based on the strong association between Mn‐oxide deposition and evolving atmospheric dioxygen levels on Earth, the presence of these Mn phases on Mars suggests that there was more abundant molecular oxygen within the atmosphere and some groundwaters of ancient Mars than in the present day.