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Title: Diagenesis and clay mineral formation at Gale Crater, Mars

Abstract

The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity found host rocks of basaltic composition and alteration assemblages containing clay minerals at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater. On the basis of the observed host rock and alteration minerals, we present results of equilibrium thermochemical modeling of the Sheepbed mudstones of Yellowknife Bay in order to constrain the formation conditions of its secondary mineral assemblage. Building on conclusions from sedimentary observations by the Mars Science Laboratory team, we assume diagenetic, in situ alteration. The modeling shows that the mineral assemblage formed by the reaction of a CO₂-poor and oxidizing, dilute aqueous solution (Gale Portage Water) in an open system with the Fe-rich basaltic-composition sedimentary rocks at 10–50°C and water/rock ratio (mass of rock reacted with the starting fluid) of 100–1000, pH of ~7.5–12. Model alteration assemblages predominantly contain phyllosilicates (Fe-smectite, chlorite), the bulk composition of a mixture of which is close to that of saponite inferred from Chemistry and Mineralogy data and to that of saponite observed in the nakhlite Martian meteorites and terrestrial analogues. To match the observed clay mineral chemistry, inhomogeneous dissolution dominated by the amorphous phase and olivine is required. We therefore deduce a dissolving composition of approximately 70% amorphous material, withmore » 20% olivine, and 10% whole rock component.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [1];  [8]
  1. Univ. of Leicester, Leicester (United Kingdom). Space Research Centre, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy.
  2. Open Univ., Milton Keynes (United Kingdom). Dept. of Physical Sciences.
  3. McGill Univ., Montreal, QC (Canada). Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science.
  4. Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Orléans (France)
  5. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  6. Université de Nantes, Nantes (France). Laboratoire Planétologie et Géodynamique de Nantes.
  7. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (United States). Exobiology Branch.
  8. IRAP (CNRS-Univ. P. Sabatier), Toulouse (France)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1212473
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 120; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9097
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES

Citation Formats

Bridges, J. C., Schwenzer, S. P., Leveille, R., Westall, F., Wiens, R. C., Mangold, N., Bristow, T., Edwards, P., and Berger, G. Diagenesis and clay mineral formation at Gale Crater, Mars. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1002/2014JE004757.
Bridges, J. C., Schwenzer, S. P., Leveille, R., Westall, F., Wiens, R. C., Mangold, N., Bristow, T., Edwards, P., & Berger, G. Diagenesis and clay mineral formation at Gale Crater, Mars. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JE004757
Bridges, J. C., Schwenzer, S. P., Leveille, R., Westall, F., Wiens, R. C., Mangold, N., Bristow, T., Edwards, P., and Berger, G. 2015. "Diagenesis and clay mineral formation at Gale Crater, Mars". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JE004757. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1212473.
@article{osti_1212473,
title = {Diagenesis and clay mineral formation at Gale Crater, Mars},
author = {Bridges, J. C. and Schwenzer, S. P. and Leveille, R. and Westall, F. and Wiens, R. C. and Mangold, N. and Bristow, T. and Edwards, P. and Berger, G.},
abstractNote = {The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity found host rocks of basaltic composition and alteration assemblages containing clay minerals at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater. On the basis of the observed host rock and alteration minerals, we present results of equilibrium thermochemical modeling of the Sheepbed mudstones of Yellowknife Bay in order to constrain the formation conditions of its secondary mineral assemblage. Building on conclusions from sedimentary observations by the Mars Science Laboratory team, we assume diagenetic, in situ alteration. The modeling shows that the mineral assemblage formed by the reaction of a CO₂-poor and oxidizing, dilute aqueous solution (Gale Portage Water) in an open system with the Fe-rich basaltic-composition sedimentary rocks at 10–50°C and water/rock ratio (mass of rock reacted with the starting fluid) of 100–1000, pH of ~7.5–12. Model alteration assemblages predominantly contain phyllosilicates (Fe-smectite, chlorite), the bulk composition of a mixture of which is close to that of saponite inferred from Chemistry and Mineralogy data and to that of saponite observed in the nakhlite Martian meteorites and terrestrial analogues. To match the observed clay mineral chemistry, inhomogeneous dissolution dominated by the amorphous phase and olivine is required. We therefore deduce a dissolving composition of approximately 70% amorphous material, with 20% olivine, and 10% whole rock component.},
doi = {10.1002/2014JE004757},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1212473}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets},
issn = {2169-9097},
number = 1,
volume = 120,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 18 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Sun Jan 18 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}

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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Study of a terrestrial Martian analogue: Geochemical characterization of the Meñakoz outcrops (Biscay, Spain)
journal, February 2019


New Raman–visible near‐infrared database of inorganic and mineralogical planetary and terrestrial compounds and its implications for Mars: Phyllosilicates
journal, July 2019


Surface clay formation during short-term warmer and wetter conditions on a largely cold ancient Mars
journal, February 2018


Pyrite-induced uv-photocatalytic abiotic nitrogen fixation: implications for early atmospheres and Life
journal, October 2019


Experimental hydrothermal alteration of basaltic glass with relevance to Mars
journal, November 2018