Evaporite mineral assemblages in the nakhlite (martian) meteorites

Fractionated Noble Gases in the Nakhlite Martian Meteorites

1,2,3 , Ott 2 , U., Hicks 4 , L. J., Bridges 4 , J. C., Barnes 5,6 , G., Treiman 3 , A. H., and Swindle 6 , T. D., 1 The Open University, Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 5AA, UK; [email protected]. 2 Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry, Germany. 3 Lunar and Planetary Institute, USA. 4 University of Leicester, UK. 5 University of Idaho, U...

Martian Aqueous Alterations in Alh 84001 and the Nakhlite Meteorites

Carbonates. The dominant aqueous deposits in ALH 84001 are carbonate minerals, which form ellipsoids, discs, and other space-filling shapes, Figure 1 [1,4,5,6 etc]. These deposits are chemically zoned, nearly continuously from calcitic and ankeritic cores to magnesite-siderite compositions ranging from nearly pure magnesite to ~Mg45Fe45Ca10 (Fig. 2); hydromagnesite is not reported. The carbonat...

Alteration Assemblages in Martian Meteorites: Implications for Near-surface Processes

The SNC (Shergotty-Nakhla-Chassigny) meteorites have recorded interactions between martian crustal fluids and the parent igneous rocks. The resultant secondary minerals which comprise up to ~ 1 vol.% of the meteorites – provide information about the timing and nature of hydrous activity and atmospheric processes on Mars. We suggest that the most plausible models for secondary mineral formation ...

The Nakhlite Meteorites Provide Evidence for Mineralization of Martian Co2 by Carbonation of Silicates

Martian Sinkholes: Implications for Large Scale Evaporite

Introduction. The current hypothesis is that Martian sinkholes do not exist. It is proposed that the low pH environment resulting from the high CO2 content of the atmosphere will cause calcium carbonate to be deposited as calcite cemented sandstone rather than limestone [5]. Calcite, as well as gypsum, halite, smectite and illite, has been detected in Martian meteorites providing proof of the p...