Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Nov 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011icar..216..257g&link_type=abstract
Icarus, Volume 216, Issue 1, p. 257-268.
Mathematics
Logic
2
Scientific paper
Phyllosilicates on Mars are widespread in the ancient crust suggesting the presence of liquid water at the martian surface and therefore warmer conditions during its early history. However, the role of the ancient climate in the alteration process, which produced these phyllosilicates, remains under debate, because similar mineral assemblages can be produced by hydrothermal alteration at depth. This paper focuses on the origin of coincident outcrops of Fe/Mg bearing phyllosilicates and Al-bearing phyllosilicates, which are observed in several regions of Mars. We performed a detailed mineralogical comparison between a section in Nili Fossae, Mars, and a weathering profile located at Murrin Murrin, Western Australia. The Murrin Murrin profile is developed in Archaean serpentinized peridotite massifs over a ˜40 m thick sequence. It has three alteration zones: the serpentine mineral saprolite is found at the bottom, immediately overlain by Fe/Mg-bearing smectites and then Al-bearing phyllosilicates (kaolinite) mixed with iron hydroxides. This example illustrates how Al-dominated minerals can derive from the alteration of initially Al-poor ultramafic rocks by the intense leaching of Mg2+. This mineralogical sequence is very similar to that detected locally in Nili Fossae by orbital spectroscopy. By analogy, we propose that the mineral assemblage detected on Mars is the result of long-term weathering, and thus could be the best evidence of past weathering as a direct result of a climate significantly warmer than at present.
Dehouck E.
Gaudin A.
Mangold Nicolas
No associations
LandOfFree
Evidence for weathering on early Mars from a comparison with terrestrial weathering profiles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Evidence for weathering on early Mars from a comparison with terrestrial weathering profiles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Evidence for weathering on early Mars from a comparison with terrestrial weathering profiles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-742263