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Highly Oxidizing Aqueous Environments on Early Mars Inferred From Scavenging Pattern of Trace Metals on Manganese Oxides
Author(s) -
Noda Natsumi,
Imamura Shoko,
Sekine Yasuhito,
Kurisu Minako,
Fukushi Keisuke,
Terada Naoki,
Uesugi Soichiro,
Numako Chiya,
Takahashi Yoshio,
Hartmann Jens
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1029/2018je005892
Subject(s) - manganese , oxidizing agent , chemistry , redox , mars exploration program , inorganic chemistry , chromium , birnessite , nickel , perchlorate , aqueous solution , environmental chemistry , astrobiology , manganese oxide , ion , physics , organic chemistry
The Curiosity and Opportunity rovers have found depositions of manganese (Mn) (hydr)oxides within the veins of the sedimentary rocks at Gale and Endeavour craters. Since Mn is a redox sensitive element, revealing the chemical form of the Mn (hydr)oxide provides unique information on the redox state of the near‐surface/groundwater at the time of deposition. Here we report results of laboratory experiments that investigated scavenging patterns of trace metals (zinc, nickel, and chromium) on different Mn (hydr)oxides in order to constrain the chemical form of the Mn precipitates found on Mars. Our results show manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) scavenges zinc and nickel effectively but not for chromium. The agreement of this scavenging pattern with the observations strongly suggests that the Mn (hydr)oxides found on Mars are highly likely to be MnO 2 . To form MnO 2 , oxidizing aqueous environments are required (e.g., Eh > 0.5 V at pH ~ 8). The candidates of the oxidant include molecular oxygen, ozone, nitrates, and perchlorate acids; all of which are considered to be produced by photochemical processes. The presence of MnO 2 veins in sediments suggests that such atmospheric high‐Eh oxidants may have been supplied to the subsurface, possibly through hydrological cycles activated by transient warming.