The environment of early Mars and the missing carbonates

Details The environment of early Mars and the missing carbonates The environment of early Mars and the missing carbonates

Oct 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011m%26ps...46.1447f&link_type=abstract

Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Volume 46, Issue 10, pp. 1447-1469.

Physics

1

Scientific paper

A model is presented in which the aqueous conditions needed to generate phyllosilicate minerals in the absence of carbonates found in the ancient Noachian crust are maintained by an early CO2-rich atmosphere, that, together with iron (II) oxidation, would prevent carbonate formation at the surface. After cessation of the internal magnetic dynamo, a CO2-rich primordial atmosphere was stripped by interactions with the solar wind and surface conditions evolved from humid to arid, with ground waters partially dissolving subsurface carbonate and sulfide minerals to produce acid-sulfate evaporitic deposits in areas with upwelling ground water. In a subsequent geochemical state (Late Noachian to Hesperian), surface and subsurface acidic solutions were neutralized in the subsurface through interaction with basaltic crust, allowing the precipitation of secondary carbonates. This model suggests that, in the early Noachian, the surface waters of Mars maintained acidity because of a drop in temperature. This would have favored increased dissolution of CO2 and a reduction in atmospheric pressure. In this scenario, physicochemical conditions precluded the formation of surface carbonates, but induced the precipitation of carbonates in the subsurface.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The environment of early Mars and the missing carbonates 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 The environment of early Mars and the missing carbonates, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The environment of early Mars and the missing carbonates will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1650394