Detection of silica-rich deposits on mars

S. W. Squyres; R. E. Arvidson; Steven Ruff; R. Gellert; R. V. Morris; D. W. Ming; L. Crumpler; Jack Farmer; D. J. Des Marais; A. Yen; S. M. McLennan; W. Calvin; James Bell; B. C. Clark; A. Wang; T. J. McCoy; M. E. Schmidt; P. A. De Souza

doi:10.1126/science.1155429

Detection of silica-rich deposits on mars

S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, Steven Ruff, R. Gellert, R. V. Morris, D. W. Ming, L. Crumpler, Jack Farmer, D. J. Des Marais, A. Yen, S. M. McLennan, W. Calvin, James Bell, B. C. Clark, A. Wang, T. J. McCoy, M. E. Schmidt, P. A. De Souza

Earth and Space Exploration, School of (SESE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

381 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mineral deposits on the martian surface can elucidate ancient environmental conditions on the planet. Opaline silica deposits (as much as 91 weight percent SiO2) have been found in association with volcanic materials by the Mars rover Spirit. The deposits are present both as light-toned soils and as bedrock. We interpret these materials to have formed under hydrothermal conditions and therefore to be strong indicators of a former aqueous environment. This discovery is important for understanding the past habitability of Mars because hydrothermal environments on Earth support thriving microbial ecosystems.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1063-1067
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	320
Issue number	5879
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1155429
State	Published - May 23 2008

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Squyres, S. W., Arvidson, R. E., Ruff, S., Gellert, R., Morris, R. V., Ming, D. W., Crumpler, L., Farmer, J., Des Marais, D. J., Yen, A., McLennan, S. M., Calvin, W., Bell, J., Clark, B. C., Wang, A., McCoy, T. J., Schmidt, M. E., & De Souza, P. A. (2008). Detection of silica-rich deposits on mars. Science, 320(5879), 1063-1067. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1155429

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abstract = "Mineral deposits on the martian surface can elucidate ancient environmental conditions on the planet. Opaline silica deposits (as much as 91 weight percent SiO2) have been found in association with volcanic materials by the Mars rover Spirit. The deposits are present both as light-toned soils and as bedrock. We interpret these materials to have formed under hydrothermal conditions and therefore to be strong indicators of a former aqueous environment. This discovery is important for understanding the past habitability of Mars because hydrothermal environments on Earth support thriving microbial ecosystems.",

author = "Squyres, {S. W.} and Arvidson, {R. E.} and Steven Ruff and R. Gellert and Morris, {R. V.} and Ming, {D. W.} and L. Crumpler and Jack Farmer and {Des Marais}, {D. J.} and A. Yen and McLennan, {S. M.} and W. Calvin and James Bell and Clark, {B. C.} and A. Wang and McCoy, {T. J.} and Schmidt, {M. E.} and {De Souza}, {P. A.}",

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T1 - Detection of silica-rich deposits on mars

AU - Squyres, S. W.

AU - Arvidson, R. E.

AU - Ruff, Steven

AU - Gellert, R.

AU - Morris, R. V.

AU - Ming, D. W.

AU - Crumpler, L.

AU - Farmer, Jack

AU - Des Marais, D. J.

AU - Yen, A.

AU - McLennan, S. M.

AU - Calvin, W.

AU - Bell, James

AU - Clark, B. C.

AU - Wang, A.

AU - McCoy, T. J.

AU - Schmidt, M. E.

AU - De Souza, P. A.

PY - 2008/5/23

Y1 - 2008/5/23

N2 - Mineral deposits on the martian surface can elucidate ancient environmental conditions on the planet. Opaline silica deposits (as much as 91 weight percent SiO2) have been found in association with volcanic materials by the Mars rover Spirit. The deposits are present both as light-toned soils and as bedrock. We interpret these materials to have formed under hydrothermal conditions and therefore to be strong indicators of a former aqueous environment. This discovery is important for understanding the past habitability of Mars because hydrothermal environments on Earth support thriving microbial ecosystems.

AB - Mineral deposits on the martian surface can elucidate ancient environmental conditions on the planet. Opaline silica deposits (as much as 91 weight percent SiO2) have been found in association with volcanic materials by the Mars rover Spirit. The deposits are present both as light-toned soils and as bedrock. We interpret these materials to have formed under hydrothermal conditions and therefore to be strong indicators of a former aqueous environment. This discovery is important for understanding the past habitability of Mars because hydrothermal environments on Earth support thriving microbial ecosystems.

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Detection of silica-rich deposits on mars

Abstract

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