Evolved gas analyses of sedimentary rocks and eolian sediment in Gale Crater, Mars: Results of the Curiosity rover's sample analysis at Mars instrument from Yellowknife Bay to the Namib Dune
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- B. Sutter
- Jacobs Technology Houston Texas USA
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- A. C. McAdam
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
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- P. R. Mahaffy
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
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- D. W. Ming
- NASA Johnson Space Center Houston Texas USA
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- K. S. Edgett
- Malin Space Science Systems San Diego California USA
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- E. B. Rampe
- NASA Johnson Space Center Houston Texas USA
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- J. L. Eigenbrode
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
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- H. B. Franz
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
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- C. Freissinet
- LATMOS‐IPSL, CNRS‐Guyancourt Guyancourt France
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- J. P. Grotzinger
- Division of Geologic and Planetary Sciences California Institute of Technology Pasadena California USA
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- A. Steele
- Geophysical Laboratory Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington District of Columbia USA
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- C. H. House
- Department of Geosciences Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA
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- P. D. Archer
- Jacobs Technology Houston Texas USA
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- C. A. Malespin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
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- R. Navarro‐González
- Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria México City Mexico
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- J. C. Stern
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
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- J. F. Bell
- School of Earth and Space Exploration Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
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- F. J. Calef
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Pasadena California USA
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- R. Gellert
- Guelph‐Waterloo Physics Institute University of Guelph Guelph Ontario Canada
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- D. P. Glavin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt Maryland USA
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- L. M. Thompson
- Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton New Brunswick Canada
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- A. S. Yen
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Pasadena California USA
説明
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The sample analysis at Mars instrument evolved gas analyzer (SAM‐EGA) has detected evolved water, H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, SO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>S, NO, CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, CO, O<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, and HCl from two eolian sediments and nine sedimentary rocks from Gale Crater, Mars. These evolved gas detections indicate nitrates, organics, oxychlorine phase, and sulfates are widespread with phyllosilicates and carbonates occurring in select Gale Crater materials. Coevolved CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> (160 ± 248–2373 ± 820 μgC<jats:sub>(CO2)</jats:sub>/g) and CO (11 ± 3–320 ± 130 μgC<jats:sub>(CO)</jats:sub>/g) suggest that organic C is present in Gale Crater materials. Five samples evolved CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> at temperatures consistent with carbonate (0.32 ± 0.05–0.70 ± 0.1 wt % CO<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>). Evolved NO amounts to 0.002 ± 0.007–0.06 ± 0.03 wt % NO<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>. Evolution of O<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> suggests that oxychlorine phases (chlorate/perchlorate) (0.05 ± 0.025–1.05 ± 0.44 wt % ClO<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>) are present, while SO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> evolution indicates the presence of crystalline and/or poorly crystalline Fe and Mg sulfate and possibly sulfide. Evolved H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O (0.9 ± 0.3–2.5 ± 1.6 wt % H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O) is consistent with the presence of adsorbed water, hydrated salts, interlayer/structural water from phyllosilicates, and possible inclusion water in mineral/amorphous phases. Evolved H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> and H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>S suggest that reduced phases occur despite the presence of oxidized phases (nitrate, oxychlorine, sulfate, and carbonate). SAM results coupled with CheMin mineralogical and Alpha‐Particle X‐ray Spectrometer elemental analyses indicate that Gale Crater sedimentary rocks have experienced a complex authigenetic/diagenetic history involving fluids with varying pH, redox, and salt composition. The inferred geochemical conditions were favorable for microbial habitability and if life ever existed, there was likely sufficient organic C to support a small microbial population.</jats:p>
収録刊行物
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- Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
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Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 122 (12), 2574-2609, 2017-12
American Geophysical Union (AGU)