Raman spectroscopy of shocked gypsum from a meteorite impact crater
نویسندگان
چکیده
Impact craters and associated hydrothermal systems are regarded as sites within which life could originateonEarth,andonMars.TheHaughton impactcrater,oneof themostwell preservedcratersonEarth, is abundant inCa-sulphates. Selenite, a transparent form of gypsum, has been colonized by viable cyanobacteria. Basementrocks,whichhavebeenshocked,aremoreabundant inendolithicorganisms,whencomparedwithunshocked basement.We infer that selenitic and shockedgypsumaremore suitable formicrobial colonizationand have enhancedhabitability. This is analogous tomanyMartian craters, such asGaleCrater,which has sulphate deposits in a central layeredmound, thought to be formed bypost-impact hydrothermal springs. In preparation for the 2020 ExoMars mission, experiments were conducted to determine whether Raman spectroscopy can distinguish between gypsumwith different degrees of habitability. Ca-sulphates were analysed using Raman spectroscopyand results shownosignificant statisticaldifferencebetweengypsumthat has experienced shockby meteorite impact and gypsum, which has been dissolved and re-precipitated as an evaporitic crust. Raman spectroscopy is able to distinguishbetween selenite andunalteredgypsum.This shows thatRaman spectroscopy can identifymore habitable formsof gypsum, anddemonstrates the current capabilities ofRaman spectroscopy for the interpretation of gypsum habitability. Received 31 May 2016, accepted 19 August 2016, first published online 21 September 2016
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