Possible mechanism for explaining the origin and size distribution of Martian hematite spherules

Misra, A. K.; Acosta-Maeda, T. E.; Scott, E. R. D.; Sharma, Shiv K.

doi:10.1016/j.pss.2014.01.020

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Various explanations have been investigated, such as the transformation of goethite (FeOOH) and other iron hydroxides (Glotch and Kraft, 2008;Fu et al, 2020), that initially precipitated from aqueous solution and subsequently transformed into hematite. Other theories suggest the role of hydrothermal fluids and seabed water flows depositing the blueberries as observed on Earth (Di Bella et al, 2019), or that the formation of hematite spherules is associated with unique surface conditions on Mars, such as ablation of meteorites (Misra et al, 2014) or freezing aqueous suspensions of hematite nanoparticles (Sexton et al, 2017).…”

Section: Fe-oxidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars: new insights and unresolved questions

Changela

Chatzitheodoridis

Antunes

et al. 2021

International Journal of Astrobiology

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Mars exploration motivates the search for extraterrestrial life, the development of space technologies, and the design of human missions and habitations. Here, we seek new insights and pose unresolved questions relating to the natural history of Mars, habitability, robotic and human exploration, planetary protection, and the impacts on human society. Key observations and findings include: – high escape rates of early Mars' atmosphere, including loss of water, impact present-day habitability; – putative fossils on Mars will likely be ambiguous biomarkers for life; – microbial contamination resulting from human habitation is unavoidable; and – based on Mars' current planetary protection category, robotic payload(s) should characterize the local martian environment for any life-forms prior to human habitation. Some of the outstanding questions are: – which interpretation of the hemispheric dichotomy of the planet is correct; – to what degree did deep-penetrating faults transport subsurface liquids to Mars' surface; – in what abundance are carbonates formed by atmospheric processes; – what properties of martian meteorites could be used to constrain their source locations; – the origin(s) of organic macromolecules; – was/is Mars inhabited; – how can missions designed to uncover microbial activity in the subsurface eliminate potential false positives caused by microbial contaminants from Earth; – how can we ensure that humans and microbes form a stable and benign biosphere; and – should humans relate to putative extraterrestrial life from a biocentric viewpoint (preservation of all biology), or anthropocentric viewpoint of expanding habitation of space? Studies of Mars' evolution can shed light on the habitability of extrasolar planets. In addition, Mars exploration can drive future policy developments and confirm (or put into question) the feasibility and/or extent of human habitability of space.

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Section: Fe-oxidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars: new insights and unresolved questions

Changela

Chatzitheodoridis

Antunes

et al. 2021

International Journal of Astrobiology

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“…Other processes such as that of Hematite Spherules otherwise referred to as "martian blueberries" are predicted to form similar to those on Earth. They are concretions formed by the precipitation of aqueous fluid (Misra et al, 2014).…”

Section: Evidence Of Liquid Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Probability of life on Mars utilizing biosignatures

Krishna¹,

Kethar²

2022

J Stud Res

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Biosignatures are key pieces of evidence of life on other planets, in this research paper we will be focusing specifically on Mars. This paper compiles research from other papers and highlights probabilities and improbabilities of life from data on Mars and terrestrial analogs on Earth. Hydrated areas likely to have liquid water exhibit a correlation with life as liquid water is commonly thought to be the “key” to an organism's survival. Analogs on Earth may also simulate similar conditions to that of Mars and illustrate various life forms that have inhabited these areas. Sources of energy observed in these analogs as well as Mars can be conducive to life. However, just because an environment is habitable does not mean life inhabited it. The paper also compares false biosignatures which may be misleading about the presence of life. The importance of this paper is to address the ambiguity and presence of microbial life on Mars.

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“…Smaller drops soon achieve terminal velocity due to lower mass, which causes the temperature of the liquid drop to fall and become solid. Depending on the size of the meteorite and the time of flight, some of the drops will hit as solid balls and others as liquid drops that form microberries on collision with the ground [22]. Larger meteorites need more time to melt completely because of their mass.…”

Section: Blueberries As Cosmic Spherulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hematite Spherules on Mars

Misra¹,

Acosta-Maeda²

2018

Mineralogy [Working Title]

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In 2004, the observation of large amounts of hematite spherules on Mars by the NASA's Mars Exploration Rover "Opportunity," which landed in Eagle crater on Meridiani Planum, created tremendous excitement among the scientific community. The discovery of hematite was significant as it suggests past presence of water on Mars. Furthermore, the hematite spherules were widely suggested to be concretions that formed by precipitation of aqueous fluids. Among the various observed mysteries of Martian hematite spherules, also known as "blueberries," one regarding to their size limit was very puzzling. All of the millions of blueberries observed on Mars were smaller than 6.2 mm in diameter. Because the concretions on Earth are not limited in size, the formation of the Martian blueberries became difficult to explain. In this chapter, we will discuss the observed properties of Martian hematite spherules and explain why a cosmic spherule formation mechanism provides a possible solution to the puzzling observations on Mars.

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Possible mechanism for explaining the origin and size distribution of Martian hematite spherules

Cited by 12 publications

References 36 publications

Mars: new insights and unresolved questions

Mars: new insights and unresolved questions

Probability of life on Mars utilizing biosignatures

Hematite Spherules on Mars

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