Oxidation of manganese in an ancient aquifer, Kimberley formation, Gale crater, Mars

Lanza, N.; Wiens, R. C.; Arvidson, R. E.; Clark, B. C.; Fischer, Woodward W.; Gellert, R.; Grotzinger, J. P.; Hurowitz, J. A.; McLennan, Scott M.; Morris, R. V.; Rice, M. S.; Bell, James F.; Berger, J. A.; Blaney, D. L.; Bridges, N. T.; Calef, F.; Campbell, John L.; Clegg, S. M.; Cousin, A.; Edgett, K. S.; Fabre, C.; Fisk, Martin; Forni, O.; Frydenvang, J.; Hardy, Keian R.; Hardgrove, C.; Johnson, J. R.; Lasue, J.; Mouëlic, Stéphane Le; Malin, M. C.; Mangold, N.; Martín‐Torres, Javier; Maurice, S.; McBride, M. J.; Ming, D. W.; Newsom, H. E.; Ollila, A.; Sautter, V.; Schröder, Susanne; Thompson, L. M.; Treiman, Allan H.; VanBommel, S. J.; Vaniman, D. T.; Zorzano, María Paz

doi:10.1002/2016gl069109

Cited by 121 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The data are available in Table . The elemental compositions of the Mn enrichments (filled circles) and surrounding sediments (open circles) found by Curiosity are also shown as the (d) based on Lanza et al () for a comparison with our experimental data. The compositions are normalized by those of the soil Portage (see Lanza et al, , for details).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Through these processes, some trace metals are removed from aqueous environments effectively and are enriched in Mn (hydr)oxides by order(s) of magnitude compared with detrital components (e.g., Manceau et al, ; Murray & Brewer, ). As mentioned above, the results of elemental analyses by the Mars rovers show enrichments of Zn and Ni together with Mn (Arvidson et al, ; Lanza et al, ), indicating that the Mn precipitations would have been coupled to the scavenging of these metals. Contrary to Ni and Zn, no enrichments of Cr were found by the Mars rovers (Arvidson et al, ; Lanza et al, ), although Cr is typically contained in Earth's groundwater in basaltic rocks in a similar manner to Zn and Ni (e.g., Aiuppa et al, ; Kristmannsdóttir & Ármannsson, ; Pawar & Pawar, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…As mentioned above, the results of elemental analyses by the Mars rovers show enrichments of Zn and Ni together with Mn (Arvidson et al, ; Lanza et al, ), indicating that the Mn precipitations would have been coupled to the scavenging of these metals. Contrary to Ni and Zn, no enrichments of Cr were found by the Mars rovers (Arvidson et al, ; Lanza et al, ), although Cr is typically contained in Earth's groundwater in basaltic rocks in a similar manner to Zn and Ni (e.g., Aiuppa et al, ; Kristmannsdóttir & Ármannsson, ; Pawar & Pawar, ). The scavenging pattern of these trace metals is controlled by physicochemical and structural factors that are unique to each Mn (hydr)oxide mineral (e.g., Foster et al, ; Manceau et al, ; Murray & Brewer, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Mars rovers Curiosity and Opportunity have found Mn enrichments (up to ~6 wt.%) in veins within sedimentary rocks at multiple outcrops of the Gale and Endeavour craters, respectively (Arvidson et al, ; Lanza et al, ), where liquid groundwaters were active in ancient times. The positive correlations in the abundances between Mn and trace metals (e.g., Zn and Ni), together with the lack of apparent correlations with Cl, S, or C, suggest that the Mn enrichments were caused by precipitations of Mn (hydr)oxides within ancient aquifers, rather than the deposition of Mn‐bearing chloride, sulfate, and/or carbonate (Lanza et al, ). One possible interpretation for the Mn enrichments is oxidization of reduced Mn 2+ in groundwater within fractures of sediments to form oxidative Mn dioxide, MnO 2 , by high‐Eh oxidants, such as O 2 (Lanza et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The positive correlations in the abundances between Mn and trace metals (e.g., Zn and Ni), together with the lack of apparent correlations with Cl, S, or C, suggest that the Mn enrichments were caused by precipitations of Mn (hydr)oxides within ancient aquifers, rather than the deposition of Mn‐bearing chloride, sulfate, and/or carbonate (Lanza et al, ). One possible interpretation for the Mn enrichments is oxidization of reduced Mn 2+ in groundwater within fractures of sediments to form oxidative Mn dioxide, MnO 2 , by high‐Eh oxidants, such as O 2 (Lanza et al, ). Alternatively, the precipitation of less oxidative Mn (hydr)oxides, such as Mn (OH) 2 and Mn 3 O 4 , can occur in response to an increase in pH under weakly to moderately oxidizing conditions (Figure ; e.g., Anilkumar & Ravi, ; Mu et al, ; Bastami & Entezari, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Highly Oxidizing Aqueous Environments on Early Mars Inferred From Scavenging Pattern of Trace Metals on Manganese Oxides

et al. 2019

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The Curiosity and Opportunity rovers have found depositions of manganese (Mn) (hydr)oxides within the veins of the sedimentary rocks at Gale and Endeavour craters. Since Mn is a redox sensitive element, revealing the chemical form of the Mn (hydr)oxide provides unique information on the redox state of the near‐surface/groundwater at the time of deposition. Here we report results of laboratory experiments that investigated scavenging patterns of trace metals (zinc, nickel, and chromium) on different Mn (hydr)oxides in order to constrain the chemical form of the Mn precipitates found on Mars. Our results show manganese dioxide (MnO2) scavenges zinc and nickel effectively but not for chromium. The agreement of this scavenging pattern with the observations strongly suggests that the Mn (hydr)oxides found on Mars are highly likely to be MnO2. To form MnO2, oxidizing aqueous environments are required (e.g., Eh > 0.5 V at pH ~ 8). The candidates of the oxidant include molecular oxygen, ozone, nitrates, and perchlorate acids; all of which are considered to be produced by photochemical processes. The presence of MnO2 veins in sediments suggests that such atmospheric high‐Eh oxidants may have been supplied to the subsurface, possibly through hydrological cycles activated by transient warming.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Highly Oxidizing Aqueous Environments on Early Mars Inferred From Scavenging Pattern of Trace Metals on Manganese Oxides

et al. 2019

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Potassium‐rich sandstones within the Gale impact crater, Mars: The APXS perspective

et al. 2016

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The Alpha Particle X‐ray spectrometer (APXS) on board the Curiosity rover at the Kimberley location within Gale crater, Mars, analyzed basaltic sandstones that are characterized by potassium enrichments of 2 to 8 times estimates for average Martian crust. They are the most potassic rocks sampled on Mars to date. They exhibit elevated Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn and depleted Na, Al, and Si. These compositional characteristics are common to other potassic sedimentary rocks analyzed by APXS at Gale but distinct from other landing sites and Martian meteorites. CheMin and APXS analysis of a drilled sample indicate mineralogy dominated by sanidine, Ca‐rich and Ca‐poor clinopyroxene, magnetite, olivine, and andesine. The anhydrous mineralogy of the Kimberley sample, and the normative mineralogy derived from APXS of other Bathurst class rocks, together indicate provenance from one or more potassium‐rich magmatic or impact‐generated source rocks on the rim of Gale crater or beyond. Elevated Zn, Ge, and Cu suggest that a localized area of the source region(s) experienced hydrothermal alteration, which was subsequently eroded, dispersed, and diluted throughout the unaltered sediment during transport and deposition. The identification of the basaltic, high potassium Bathurst class and other distinct rock compositional classes by the APXS, attests to the diverse chemistry of crustal rocks within and in the vicinity of Gale crater. We conclude that weathering, transport, and diagenesis of the sediment did not occur in a warm and wet environment, but instead under relatively cold and wet conditions, perhaps more fitting with processes typical of glacial/periglacial environments.

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Sorting out compositional trends in sedimentary rocks of the Bradbury group (Aeolis Palus), Gale crater, Mars

et al. 2017

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Sedimentary rocks are composed of detrital grains derived from source rocks, which are altered by chemical weathering, sorted during transport, and cemented during diagenesis. Fluvio‐lacustrine sedimentary rocks of the Bradbury group, observed on the floor of Gale crater by the Curiosity rover during its first 860 Martian solar days, show trends in bulk chemistry that are consistent with sorting of mineral grains during transport. The Bradbury group rocks are uniquely suited for sedimentary provenance analysis because they appear to have experienced negligible cation loss (i.e., open‐system chemical weathering) at the scale of the Alpha Particle X‐ray Spectrometer bulk chemistry analyses based on low Chemical Index of Alteration values and successful modeling of >90% of the (volatile‐free) targets as mixtures of primary igneous minerals. Significant compositional variability between targets is instead correlated to grain‐size and textural characteristics of the rocks; the coarsest‐grained targets are enriched in Al2O3, SiO2, and Na2O, whereas the finer‐grained targets are enriched in mafic components. This is consistent with geochemical and mineralogical modeling of the segregation of coarse‐grained plagioclase from finer‐grained mafic minerals (e.g., olivine and pyroxenes), which would be expected from hydrodynamic sorting of the detritus from mechanical breakdown of subalkaline plagioclase‐phyric basalts. While the presence of a distinctive K2O‐rich stratigraphic interval shows that input from at least one distinctive alkali‐feldspar‐rich protolith contributed to basin fill, the dominant compositional trends in the Bradbury group are consistent with sorting of detrital minerals during transport from relatively homogeneous plagioclase‐phyric basalts.

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Oxidation of manganese in an ancient aquifer, Kimberley formation, Gale crater, Mars

Cited by 121 publications

References 45 publications

Highly Oxidizing Aqueous Environments on Early Mars Inferred From Scavenging Pattern of Trace Metals on Manganese Oxides

Highly Oxidizing Aqueous Environments on Early Mars Inferred From Scavenging Pattern of Trace Metals on Manganese Oxides

Potassium‐rich sandstones within the Gale impact crater, Mars: The APXS perspective

Sorting out compositional trends in sedimentary rocks of the Bradbury group (Aeolis Palus), Gale crater, Mars

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