Evidence of martian perchlorate, chlorate, and nitrate in Mars meteorite EETA79001: Implications for oxidants and organics

Kounaves, Samuel P.; O’Neil, Glen D.; Stroble, Shannon T.; Claire, Mark

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2013.11.012

Cited by 139 publications

(136 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…40) and a soil density of 2 g/cm 3 , and is consistent with the upper limit of our detection of ∼0.11 wt % NO 3 at CB. Our detections also fall within the estimates of nitrate concentration from meteorites, which vary widely from recent detection of 4,800 ± 60 ppm nitrate in the martian meteorite EETA79001 (15) to previous estimates of >1 ppm (16).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Evidence for indigenous nitrogen in sedimentary and aeolian deposits from the Curiosity rover investigations at Gale crater, Mars

Stern

Sutter

Freissinet

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

180

170

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The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has detected oxidized nitrogen-bearing compounds during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled sedimentary deposits within Gale crater. Total N concentrations ranged from 20 to 250 nmol N per sample. After subtraction of known N sources in SAM, our results support the equivalent of 110–300 ppm of nitrate in the Rocknest (RN) aeolian samples, and 70–260 and 330–1,100 ppm nitrate in John Klein (JK) and Cumberland (CB) mudstone deposits, respectively. Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and, specifically, for the potential evolution of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The detection of nitrate in both wind-drifted fines (RN) and in mudstone (JK, CB) is likely a result of N2 fixation to nitrate generated by thermal shock from impact or volcanic plume lightning on ancient Mars. Fixed nitrogen could have facilitated the development of a primitive nitrogen cycle on the surface of ancient Mars, potentially providing a biochemically accessible source of nitrogen.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Evidence for indigenous nitrogen in sedimentary and aeolian deposits from the Curiosity rover investigations at Gale crater, Mars

Stern

Sutter

Freissinet

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

180

170

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“…Although the availability of nitrate has not yet been established, evidence from Martian meteorites suggests that it could be distributed as widely as perchlorate (54). Previous studies have shown that both denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction can be coupled to CO oxidation (55) and, in this study, A. ehrlichii MLHE-1, a nitrate respirer, oxidized CO anaerobically in the presence of 5 mM nitrate, albeit at rates significantly slower (14.3-15.4%) than under oxic or suboxic conditions (Table 1 and Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon monoxide as a metabolic energy source for extremely halophilic microbes: Implications for microbial activity in Mars regolith

King

2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Carbon monoxide occurs at relatively high concentrations (≥800 parts per million) in Mars' atmosphere, where it represents a potentially significant energy source that could fuel metabolism by a localized putative surface or near-surface microbiota. However, the plausibility of CO oxidation under conditions relevant for Mars in its past or at present has not been evaluated. Results from diverse terrestrial brines and saline soils provide the first documentation, to our knowledge, of active CO uptake at water potentials (−41 MPa to −117 MPa) that might occur in putative brines at recurrent slope lineae (RSL) on Mars. Results from two extremely halophilic isolates complement the field observations. Halorubrum str. BV1, isolated from the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah (to our knowledge, the first documented extremely halophilic CO-oxidizing member of the Euryarchaeota), consumed CO in a salt-saturated medium with a water potential of −39.6 MPa; activity was reduced by only 28% relative to activity at its optimum water potential of −11 MPa. A proteobacterial isolate from hypersaline Mono Lake, California, Alkalilimnicola ehrlichii MLHE-1, also oxidized CO at low water potentials (−19 MPa), at temperatures within ranges reported for RSL, and under oxic, suboxic (0.2% oxygen), and anoxic conditions (oxygen-free with nitrate). MLHE-1 was unaffected by magnesium perchlorate or low atmospheric pressure (10 mbar). These results collectively establish the potential for microbial CO oxidation under conditions that might obtain at local scales (e.g., RSL) on contemporary Mars and at larger spatial scales earlier in Mars' history. Geological, geochemical, and geomorphological observations have provided definitive evidence for large, ancient fluvial systems that might have been conducive to life (8-13), but the timing, temperature, and composition of surface water have been controversial (14-17). Although unequivocal evidence for contemporary liquid water reservoirs has not yet been obtained, experimental evidence suggests plausible conditions under which brines might form (18), and observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest that recurring slope lineae (RSL) at latitudes between 32°S and 48°S might develop in association with seasonally moderate conditions during late spring-summer (19-21). McEwen et al. (19) have proposed that these features can be best explained by near-surface liquid water brines that form between temperatures of about −10°C and 25°C during late spring-summer.However, even if liquid water was at one time or is now sufficient to support microbial life, energy sources that could sustain metabolism in near-surface regolith have not been identified. Although the 1976 Viking lander results appeared to exclude surface organic matter (e.g., 22, 23), recent evidence suggests that low organic matter levels might indeed occur in some deposits (e.g., 12). Even so, it is uncertain whether this material exists in a form or concentrations suitable for microbial use.The Martian atmosphere has largely been ign...

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“…Moreover, non-light-induced abiotic oxidation of organics also may be involved in desert soils because the process has shown that Mn-oxides and Fe-oxides/ hydroxides common in desert soils (and in the tested ones, Table 2) could cause oxidation of organics (for example, 17beta-estradiol 55 ) and aromatic amines 56 . Similarly, perchlorates (present in both Atacama and Mojave Deserts 34,35 ) could be potential oxidants of soil organics [57][58][59] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for photochemical production of reactive oxygen species in desert soils

et al. 2015

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The combination of intense solar radiation and soil desiccation creates a short circuit in the biogeochemical carbon cycle, where soils release significant amounts of CO 2 and reactive nitrogen oxides by abiotic oxidation. Here we show that desert soils accumulate metal superoxides and peroxides at higher levels than non-desert soils. We also show the photogeneration of equimolar superoxide and hydroxyl radical in desiccated and aqueous soils, respectively, by a photo-induced electron transfer mechanism supported by their mineralogical composition. Reactivity of desert soils is further supported by the generation of hydroxyl radical via aqueous extracts in the dark. Our findings extend to desert soils the photogeneration of reactive oxygen species by certain mineral oxides and also explain previous studies on desert soil organic oxidant chemistry and microbiology. Similar processes driven by ultraviolet radiation may be operating in the surface soils on Mars.

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Evidence of martian perchlorate, chlorate, and nitrate in Mars meteorite EETA79001: Implications for oxidants and organics

Cited by 139 publications

References 68 publications

Evidence for indigenous nitrogen in sedimentary and aeolian deposits from the Curiosity rover investigations at Gale crater, Mars

Evidence for indigenous nitrogen in sedimentary and aeolian deposits from the Curiosity rover investigations at Gale crater, Mars

Carbon monoxide as a metabolic energy source for extremely halophilic microbes: Implications for microbial activity in Mars regolith

Evidence for photochemical production of reactive oxygen species in desert soils

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