A review of the phyllosilicates in gale crater as detected by the chemin instrument on the mars science laboratory, curiosity rover

Valerie M. Tu; Elizabeth B. Rampe; Thomas F. Bristow; Michael T. Thorpe; Joanna V. Clark; Nicholas Castle; Abigail A. Fraeman; Lauren A. Edgar; Amy McAdam; Candice Bedford; Cherie N. Achilles; David Blake; Steve J. Chipera; Patricia I. Craig; David J. Des Marais; Gordon W. Downs; Robert T. Downs; Valerie Fox; John P. Grotzinger; Robert M. Hazen; Douglas W. Ming; Richard V. Morris; Shaunna M. Morrison; Betina Pavri; Jennifer Eigenbrode; Tanya S. Peretyazhko; Philippe C. Sarrazin; Brad Sutter; Allan H. Treiman; David T. Vaniman; Ashwin R. Vasavada; Albert S. Yen; John C. Bridges

doi:10.3390/min11080847

A review of the phyllosilicates in gale crater as detected by the chemin instrument on the mars science laboratory, curiosity rover

Valerie M. Tu, Elizabeth B. Rampe, Thomas F. Bristow, Michael T. Thorpe, Joanna V. Clark, Nicholas Castle, Abigail A. Fraeman, Lauren A. Edgar, Amy McAdam, Candice Bedford, Cherie N. Achilles, David Blake, Steve J. Chipera, Patricia I. Craig, David J. Des Marais, Gordon W. Downs, Robert T. Downs, Valerie Fox, John P. Grotzinger, Robert M. HazenDouglas W. Ming, Richard V. Morris, Shaunna M. Morrison, Betina Pavri, Jennifer Eigenbrode, Tanya S. Peretyazhko, Philippe C. Sarrazin, Brad Sutter, Allan H. Treiman, David T. Vaniman, Ashwin R. Vasavada, Albert S. Yen, John C. Bridges

Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, landed on Mars in August 2012 to investigate the ~3.5-billion-year-old (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary deposits of Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) and the surrounding plains (Aeolis Palus) in Gale crater. After nearly nine years, Curiosity has traversed over 25 km, and the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) X-ray diffraction instrument on-board Curiosity has analyzed 30 drilled rock and three scooped soil samples to date. The principal strategic goal of the mission is to assess the habitability of Mars in its ancient past. Phyllosilicates are common in ancient Martian terrains dating to ~3.5–4 Ga and were detected from orbit in some of the lower strata of Mount Sharp. Phyllosilicates on Earth are important for harboring and preserving organics. On Mars, phyllosilicates are significant for exploration as they are hypothesized to be a marker for potential habitable environments. CheMin data demonstrate that ancient fluvio-lacustrine rocks in Gale crater contain up to ~35 wt. % phyllosilicates. Phyllosilicates are key indicators of past fluid–rock interactions, and variation in the structure and composition of phyllosilicates in Gale crater suggest changes in past aqueous environments that may have been habitable to microbial life with a variety of possible energy sources.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	847
Journal	Minerals
Volume	11
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080847
State	Published - Aug 2021

Keywords

CheMin
Clay minerals
Gale crater
Mars
Mars Science Laboratory
Organic preservation
Phyllosilicates
X-ray diffraction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Geology

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10.3390/min11080847

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Tu, V. M., Rampe, E. B., Bristow, T. F., Thorpe, M. T., Clark, J. V., Castle, N., Fraeman, A. A., Edgar, L. A., McAdam, A., Bedford, C., Achilles, C. N., Blake, D., Chipera, S. J., Craig, P. I., Des Marais, D. J., Downs, G. W., Downs, R. T., Fox, V., Grotzinger, J. P., ... Bridges, J. C. (2021). A review of the phyllosilicates in gale crater as detected by the chemin instrument on the mars science laboratory, curiosity rover. Minerals, 11(8), Article 847. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080847

Tu, VM, Rampe, EB, Bristow, TF, Thorpe, MT, Clark, JV, Castle, N, Fraeman, AA, Edgar, LA, McAdam, A, Bedford, C, Achilles, CN, Blake, D, Chipera, SJ, Craig, PI, Des Marais, DJ, Downs, GW, Downs, RT, Fox, V, Grotzinger, JP, Hazen, RM, Ming, DW, Morris, RV, Morrison, SM, Pavri, B, Eigenbrode, J, Peretyazhko, TS, Sarrazin, PC, Sutter, B, Treiman, AH, Vaniman, DT, Vasavada, AR, Yen, AS & Bridges, JC 2021, 'A review of the phyllosilicates in gale crater as detected by the chemin instrument on the mars science laboratory, curiosity rover', Minerals, vol. 11, no. 8, 847. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080847

@article{2b9878697a4c4c55b183f838403c552b,

title = "A review of the phyllosilicates in gale crater as detected by the chemin instrument on the mars science laboratory, curiosity rover",

abstract = "Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, landed on Mars in August 2012 to investigate the ~3.5-billion-year-old (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary deposits of Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) and the surrounding plains (Aeolis Palus) in Gale crater. After nearly nine years, Curiosity has traversed over 25 km, and the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) X-ray diffraction instrument on-board Curiosity has analyzed 30 drilled rock and three scooped soil samples to date. The principal strategic goal of the mission is to assess the habitability of Mars in its ancient past. Phyllosilicates are common in ancient Martian terrains dating to ~3.5–4 Ga and were detected from orbit in some of the lower strata of Mount Sharp. Phyllosilicates on Earth are important for harboring and preserving organics. On Mars, phyllosilicates are significant for exploration as they are hypothesized to be a marker for potential habitable environments. CheMin data demonstrate that ancient fluvio-lacustrine rocks in Gale crater contain up to ~35 wt. % phyllosilicates. Phyllosilicates are key indicators of past fluid–rock interactions, and variation in the structure and composition of phyllosilicates in Gale crater suggest changes in past aqueous environments that may have been habitable to microbial life with a variety of possible energy sources.",

keywords = "CheMin, Clay minerals, Gale crater, Mars, Mars Science Laboratory, Organic preservation, Phyllosilicates, X-ray diffraction",

author = "Tu, {Valerie M.} and Rampe, {Elizabeth B.} and Bristow, {Thomas F.} and Thorpe, {Michael T.} and Clark, {Joanna V.} and Nicholas Castle and Fraeman, {Abigail A.} and Edgar, {Lauren A.} and Amy McAdam and Candice Bedford and Achilles, {Cherie N.} and David Blake and Chipera, {Steve J.} and Craig, {Patricia I.} and {Des Marais}, {David J.} and Downs, {Gordon W.} and Downs, {Robert T.} and Valerie Fox and Grotzinger, {John P.} and Hazen, {Robert M.} and Ming, {Douglas W.} and Morris, {Richard V.} and Morrison, {Shaunna M.} and Betina Pavri and Jennifer Eigenbrode and Peretyazhko, {Tanya S.} and Sarrazin, {Philippe C.} and Brad Sutter and Treiman, {Allan H.} and Vaniman, {David T.} and Vasavada, {Ashwin R.} and Yen, {Albert S.} and Bridges, {John C.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

doi = "10.3390/min11080847",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "11",

journal = "Minerals",

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AU - Tu, Valerie M.

AU - Rampe, Elizabeth B.

AU - Bristow, Thomas F.

AU - Thorpe, Michael T.

AU - Clark, Joanna V.

AU - Castle, Nicholas

AU - Fraeman, Abigail A.

AU - Edgar, Lauren A.

AU - McAdam, Amy

AU - Bedford, Candice

AU - Achilles, Cherie N.

AU - Blake, David

AU - Chipera, Steve J.

AU - Craig, Patricia I.

AU - Des Marais, David J.

AU - Downs, Gordon W.

AU - Downs, Robert T.

AU - Fox, Valerie

AU - Grotzinger, John P.

AU - Hazen, Robert M.

AU - Ming, Douglas W.

AU - Morris, Richard V.

AU - Morrison, Shaunna M.

AU - Pavri, Betina

AU - Eigenbrode, Jennifer

AU - Peretyazhko, Tanya S.

AU - Sarrazin, Philippe C.

AU - Sutter, Brad

AU - Treiman, Allan H.

AU - Vaniman, David T.

AU - Vasavada, Ashwin R.

AU - Yen, Albert S.

AU - Bridges, John C.

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, landed on Mars in August 2012 to investigate the ~3.5-billion-year-old (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary deposits of Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) and the surrounding plains (Aeolis Palus) in Gale crater. After nearly nine years, Curiosity has traversed over 25 km, and the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) X-ray diffraction instrument on-board Curiosity has analyzed 30 drilled rock and three scooped soil samples to date. The principal strategic goal of the mission is to assess the habitability of Mars in its ancient past. Phyllosilicates are common in ancient Martian terrains dating to ~3.5–4 Ga and were detected from orbit in some of the lower strata of Mount Sharp. Phyllosilicates on Earth are important for harboring and preserving organics. On Mars, phyllosilicates are significant for exploration as they are hypothesized to be a marker for potential habitable environments. CheMin data demonstrate that ancient fluvio-lacustrine rocks in Gale crater contain up to ~35 wt. % phyllosilicates. Phyllosilicates are key indicators of past fluid–rock interactions, and variation in the structure and composition of phyllosilicates in Gale crater suggest changes in past aqueous environments that may have been habitable to microbial life with a variety of possible energy sources.

AB - Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, landed on Mars in August 2012 to investigate the ~3.5-billion-year-old (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary deposits of Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) and the surrounding plains (Aeolis Palus) in Gale crater. After nearly nine years, Curiosity has traversed over 25 km, and the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) X-ray diffraction instrument on-board Curiosity has analyzed 30 drilled rock and three scooped soil samples to date. The principal strategic goal of the mission is to assess the habitability of Mars in its ancient past. Phyllosilicates are common in ancient Martian terrains dating to ~3.5–4 Ga and were detected from orbit in some of the lower strata of Mount Sharp. Phyllosilicates on Earth are important for harboring and preserving organics. On Mars, phyllosilicates are significant for exploration as they are hypothesized to be a marker for potential habitable environments. CheMin data demonstrate that ancient fluvio-lacustrine rocks in Gale crater contain up to ~35 wt. % phyllosilicates. Phyllosilicates are key indicators of past fluid–rock interactions, and variation in the structure and composition of phyllosilicates in Gale crater suggest changes in past aqueous environments that may have been habitable to microbial life with a variety of possible energy sources.

KW - CheMin

KW - Clay minerals

KW - Gale crater

KW - Mars

KW - Mars Science Laboratory

KW - Organic preservation

KW - Phyllosilicates

KW - X-ray diffraction

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M3 - Review article

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ER -

A review of the phyllosilicates in gale crater as detected by the chemin instrument on the mars science laboratory, curiosity rover

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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