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Deuterium and 37 Chlorine Rich Fluids on the Surface of Mars: Evidence From the Enriched Basaltic Shergottite Northwest Africa 8657
Author(s) -
Hu S.,
Lin Y.,
Anand M.,
Franchi I. A.,
Zhao X.,
Zhang J.,
Hao J.,
Zhang T.,
Yang W.,
Changela H.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1029/2020je006537
Subject(s) - apatite , meteorite , martian , basalt , geology , geochemistry , martian surface , mars exploration program , mineralogy , mantle (geology) , astrobiology , physics
Apatite, a major hydrous mineral in Martian meteorites, has the potential to reveal history of volatiles on Mars. Here we report the H and Cl isotopic systematics of apatite from the enriched basaltic shergottite Northwest Africa (NWA) 8657 to better understand the processes influencing volatiles at or near the Martian (sub)surface. The apatite in NWA 8657 has the highest reported δD value (up to 6,509‰) of any phosphates in Martian meteorites. The positive correlation between the H 2 O contents (72–2,251 ppm) and δD values (3,965–6,509‰) as well as between the Cl contents (1.28–6.17wt%) and δ 37 Cl values (−1.7–4.0‰) in NWA 8657 apatite are consistent with mixing between volatiles derived from the Martian mantle and meteoric water/fluid. The D‐ and 37 Cl‐enrichment of apatite in NWA 8657 implies isotopic exchange with subsurficial fluids during postcrystallization hydrothermal event(s).