Is release of martian atmosphere from polar clathrate the cause of nakhlite and ALH84001 Ar/Kr/Xe ratios?

Donald S. Musselwhite, Timothy D. Swindle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Variations in the Ar/Kr/Xe ratios of martian atmosphere trapped in martian meteorites correlate with the time of ejection of these meteorites from Mars. We suggest that these variations reflect actual differences in the Ar/Kr/Xe ratios of the martian atmosphere at the time of ejection of the meteorites. We propose that the variation of the Ar/Kr/Xe ratios of the martian atmosphere is caused by time varying uptake and release of these gases by CO2-H2O clathrate-hydrate in the polar caps. Nakhlites, martian meteorites representing cumulate magmatic rocks, contain evidence of atmosphere from the time of their ejection from Mars. We postulate that the martian atmosphere at that time had lower Ar/Xe and Kr/Xe ratios compared with the modern atmosphere because of the release of these and other gases from polar clathrate, possibly during a period of high (∼60°) obliquity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)207-215
Number of pages9
JournalIcarus
Volume154
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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