Brine Pools With Round Caps in the Western Qaidam Basin: Application to Iron Mobility and the Evaporation Formation of the Iron Oxide and Sulfate Assemblage on Mars
Ziyao Fang,
Yiliang Li,
Xiaoqing He
et al.
Abstract:The coexistence of sulfates and iron oxides is widespread on Mars, including at Meridiani Planum, the Opportunity rover's landing site. However, the formation mechanism is still poorly understood. Here, we report evaporitic iron oxyhydroxides and gypsum deposited as round caps in the center of brine pools in a playa area of the western Qaidam Basin in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Geochemical and mineralogical analyses indicate that the gypsum is precipitated in situ by strong evaporation of subsurface percola… Show more
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