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Orbital Identification of Carbonate-Bearing Rocks on Mars
- Source :
- Science. 322:1828-1832
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2008.
-
Abstract
- Geochemical models for Mars predict carbonate formation during aqueous alteration. Carbonate-bearing rocks had not previously been detected on Mars' surface, but Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mapping reveals a regional rock layer with near-infrared spectral characteristics that are consistent with the presence of magnesium carbonate in the Nili Fossae region. The carbonate is closely associated with both phyllosilicate-bearing and olivine-rich rock units and probably formed during the Noachian or early Hesperian era from the alteration of olivine by either hydrothermal fluids or near-surface water. The presence of carbonate as well as accompanying clays suggests that waters were neutral to alkaline at the time of its formation and that acidic weathering, proposed to be characteristic of Hesperian Mars, did not destroy these carbonates and thus did not dominate all aqueous environments.
- Subjects :
- Extraterrestrial Environment
Water on Mars
Geochemistry
Magnesium Compounds
Mars
engineering.material
Astrobiology
chemistry.chemical_compound
Magnesium
Composition of Mars
Spacecraft
Multidisciplinary
Olivine
Silicates
Spectrum Analysis
Temperature
Noachian
Water
Mars Exploration Program
CRISM
chemistry
engineering
Hesperian
Carbonate
Iron Compounds
Geology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10959203 and 00368075
- Volume :
- 322
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0826313a0f18ad38396cd481e20665ce