Identification of carbonate-rich outcrops on Mars by the spirit rover

Richard V. Morris; Steven Ruff; Ralf Gellert; Douglas W. Ming; Raymond E. Arvidson; Benton C. Clark; D. C. Golden; Kirsten Siebach; Göstar Klingelhöfer; Christian Schröder; Iris Fleischer; Albert S. Yen; Steven W. Squyres

doi:10.1126/science.1189667

Identification of carbonate-rich outcrops on Mars by the spirit rover

Richard V. Morris, Steven Ruff, Ralf Gellert, Douglas W. Ming, Raymond E. Arvidson, Benton C. Clark, D. C. Golden, Kirsten Siebach, Göstar Klingelhöfer, Christian Schröder, Iris Fleischer, Albert S. Yen, Steven W. Squyres

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Abstract

Decades of speculation about a warmer, wetter Mars climate in the planet's first billion years postulate a denser CO₂-rich atmosphere than at present. Such an atmosphere should have led to the formation of outcrops rich in carbonate minerals, for which evidence has been sparse. Using the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, we have now identified outcrops rich in magnesium-iron carbonate (16 to 34 weight percent) in the Columbia Hills of Gusev crater. Its composition approximates the average composition of the carbonate globules in martian meteorite ALH 84001. The Gusev carbonate probably precipitated from carbonate-bearing solutions under hydrothermal conditions at near-neutral pH in association with volcanic activity during the Noachian era.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	421-424
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	329
Issue number	5990
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1189667
State	Published - Jul 23 2010

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title = "Identification of carbonate-rich outcrops on Mars by the spirit rover",

abstract = "Decades of speculation about a warmer, wetter Mars climate in the planet's first billion years postulate a denser CO2-rich atmosphere than at present. Such an atmosphere should have led to the formation of outcrops rich in carbonate minerals, for which evidence has been sparse. Using the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, we have now identified outcrops rich in magnesium-iron carbonate (16 to 34 weight percent) in the Columbia Hills of Gusev crater. Its composition approximates the average composition of the carbonate globules in martian meteorite ALH 84001. The Gusev carbonate probably precipitated from carbonate-bearing solutions under hydrothermal conditions at near-neutral pH in association with volcanic activity during the Noachian era.",

author = "Morris, {Richard V.} and Steven Ruff and Ralf Gellert and Ming, {Douglas W.} and Arvidson, {Raymond E.} and Clark, {Benton C.} and Golden, {D. C.} and Kirsten Siebach and G{\"o}star Klingelh{\"o}fer and Christian Schr{\"o}der and Iris Fleischer and Yen, {Albert S.} and Squyres, {Steven W.}",

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T1 - Identification of carbonate-rich outcrops on Mars by the spirit rover

AU - Morris, Richard V.

AU - Ruff, Steven

AU - Gellert, Ralf

AU - Ming, Douglas W.

AU - Arvidson, Raymond E.

AU - Clark, Benton C.

AU - Golden, D. C.

AU - Siebach, Kirsten

AU - Klingelhöfer, Göstar

AU - Schröder, Christian

AU - Fleischer, Iris

AU - Yen, Albert S.

AU - Squyres, Steven W.

PY - 2010/7/23

Y1 - 2010/7/23

N2 - Decades of speculation about a warmer, wetter Mars climate in the planet's first billion years postulate a denser CO2-rich atmosphere than at present. Such an atmosphere should have led to the formation of outcrops rich in carbonate minerals, for which evidence has been sparse. Using the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, we have now identified outcrops rich in magnesium-iron carbonate (16 to 34 weight percent) in the Columbia Hills of Gusev crater. Its composition approximates the average composition of the carbonate globules in martian meteorite ALH 84001. The Gusev carbonate probably precipitated from carbonate-bearing solutions under hydrothermal conditions at near-neutral pH in association with volcanic activity during the Noachian era.

AB - Decades of speculation about a warmer, wetter Mars climate in the planet's first billion years postulate a denser CO2-rich atmosphere than at present. Such an atmosphere should have led to the formation of outcrops rich in carbonate minerals, for which evidence has been sparse. Using the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, we have now identified outcrops rich in magnesium-iron carbonate (16 to 34 weight percent) in the Columbia Hills of Gusev crater. Its composition approximates the average composition of the carbonate globules in martian meteorite ALH 84001. The Gusev carbonate probably precipitated from carbonate-bearing solutions under hydrothermal conditions at near-neutral pH in association with volcanic activity during the Noachian era.

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Identification of carbonate-rich outcrops on Mars by the spirit rover

Abstract

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