Premium
Detection of Carbonates in Martian Weathering Profiles
Author(s) -
Bultel Benjamin,
Viennet JeanChristophe,
Poulet François,
Carter John,
Werner Stephanie C.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1029/2018je005845
Subject(s) - weathering , noachian , carbonate , martian surface , mars exploration program , astrobiology , martian , geology , atmosphere (unit) , atmosphere of mars , impact crater , geochemistry , earth science , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
Noachian surfaces on Mars exhibit vertical assemblages of weathering horizons termed as weathering profiles ; this indicates that surface water caused alteration of the rocks that required a different, warmer climate than today. Evidence of this early Martian climate with CO 2 vapor as the main component causing greenhouse warming has been challenged by the lack of carbonate in these profiles. Here we report the analysis of Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars L‐detector data leading to the detections of carbonates using a spectral signature exclusively attributed to them. The carbonates are collocated with hydroxylated minerals in weathering profiles over the Martian surface. The origin of CO 2 for the formation of carbonates could be the atmosphere. The widespread distribution of weathering profiles with carbonates over the surface of the planet suggest global interactions between fluids containing carbonate/bicarbonate ions with the surface of Mars in the presence of atmospheric water until around 3.7 billion years ago.