Potential for Biomarkers in Phyllosilicate-bearing Rocks at Mawrth Vallis, Mars

Details Potential for Biomarkers in Phyllosilicate-bearing Rocks at Mawrth Vallis, Mars Potential for Biomarkers in Phyllosilicate-bearing Rocks at Mawrth Vallis, Mars

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p41b..05b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P41B-05

Biology

[0406] Biogeosciences / Astrobiology And Extraterrestrial Materials, [3672] Mineralogy And Petrology / Planetary Mineralogy And Petrology, [5464] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Remote Sensing, [6225] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mars

Scientific paper

Phyllosilicate minerals have been identified on Mars in OMEGA and CRISM images using spectral absorptions at 1.38-1.42, 1.91-1.93, 2.16-2.33 and 2.39-2.41 μm [1-5]. Analyses of OMEGA and CRISM spectra in the Mawrth Vallis region have revealed large exposures of Fe/Mg-smectite as the deepest phyllosilicate unit within the ancient cratered terrain that likely formed a thick, pervasive deposit that was subsequently covered by a unit rich in Al-phyllosilicates and hydrated silica. Many CRISM spectra of these phyllosilicate-dominated regions in Mawrth Vallis contain additional absorption bands near 2.4 and 2.5 μm that we attribute to aqueously-formed phases (examples shown in plot of CRISM spectra with their dominant clay types). To interpret such data further, we have acquired lab spectra of a large collection of carbonates, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, zeolites and amorphous materials (e.g. opal, allophane, imogolite) in addition to an extensive phyllosilicate spectral library. Current analyses of recently improved CRISM images with better spectral clarity are enabling characterization of minor components contributing to these spectral features. We believe that the phyllosilicate-bearing units at Mawrth Vallis harbor additional phases that formed due to aqueous processes and include components that could be biomarkers. Clay-bearing soils in harsh environments such as the Atacama desert contain nitrates, organics and other biosignatures [6]. Further, smectite clays are excellent binding agents [7] and preserve organics well [8]. Thus, the smectite-bearing units at Mawrth Vallis might have preserved organics and biosignature minerals if these were present there during the early aqueous period of Mars. [1] Poulet F. et al. (2005) Nature, 438, 632-627. [2] Bishop J. L. et al. (2008) Science, 321, 830-833. [3] Loizeau D. et al. (2009) Icarus, in press. [4] McKeown N. K. et al. (2009) JGR, in press. [5] Noe Dobrea E. Z. et al. (2009) JGR, in review. [6] Navarro-Gonzalez R. et al. (2003) Science, 302, 1018-1021. [7] Pinnavaia T. J. (1983) Science, 220, 365. [8] Farmer J. D. and D. J. Des Marais (1999) JGR, 104, 26,977-26,995.

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