Sulfates in Martian Layered Terrains: The OMEGA/Mars Express View

Abstract

The OMEGA/Mars Express hyperspectral imager identified hydrated sulfates on light-toned layered terrains on Mars. Outcrops in Valles Marineris, Margaritifer Sinus, and Terra Meridiani show evidence for kieserite, gypsum, and polyhydrated sulfates. This identification has its basis in vibrational absorptions between 1.3 and 2.5 micrometers. These minerals constitute direct records of the past aqueous activity on Mars.

Our changing view of Mars

“…Prior thermal-emission spectroscopy had successfully found signatures of minerals such as hematite, but the new access to the NIR part of the reflectance spectrum led to a key breakthrough: The many additional spectral features allowed scientists to identify hydrous minerals such as phyllosilicates, or clay minerals, 7 and sulfates. 8 The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter carried its own NIR spectrometer and also a high-resolution camera capable of distinguishing topographic surface features just tens of centimeters in size. Hydrous minerals were soon discovered in many areas of the planet, including in particular sedimentary strata found in ancient Noachian crust.…”

Claritas rise, Mars: Pre-Tharsis magmatism?

“…Known rock compositions/types include basalt, basaltic andesite, hematite, quartz, andesite, phyllosilicates, sulfates, layered sedimentary deposits, etc. (e.g., Malin and Edgett, 2000;Bandfield et al, 2000;Christensen et al, 2000Christensen et al, , 2001aChristensen et al, ,b, 2005Rieder et al, 2004;Gendrin et al, 2005). Therefore, there is very little confidence that SNC meteorites provide an even and unbiased sampling of the Martian surface.…”

“…OMEGA and CRISM have both identified a significant number of locations of hydrated sulfates Gendrin et al, 2005;Murchie et al, in press) and hydrated phyllosilicates Poulet et al, 2005;Milliken et al, 2008b;Bishop et al, 2007;Mustard et al, 2007;Bishop et al, 2008a,b;McKeown et al, 2008;Mustard et al, 2008) on the Martian surface, as well as other hydrated minerals, such as hydrated silica (Milliken et al, 2008a,b;Bishop et al, 2008a). One such locality is the Claritas rise.…”

An RF-powered micro-reactor for the detection of astrobiological target molecules on planetary bodies

“…Mars has been the primary focus of planetary exploration for many years. There is evidence that liquid water, one of the prerequisites for life as we understand it, once persisted on the surface [2][3][4][5][6] and may still be present. 7 Another interesting exploration target is the icy Jovian moon, Europa.…”