Abstract
The discovery of sulfate-rich layered deposits with hematite spherules at the landing site of the Opportunity rover is consistent with mineral deposition in an aqueous environment. We evaluate conditions responsible for the formation of a jarosite-goethite-gypsum assemblage with speciation calculations. The results show that the assemblage could have precipitated from acidic solutions formed through near-surface aqueous oxidation of pyrite. Our hypothesis is that regional heating in the Meridiani Planum caused a release of sulfide-rich hydrothermal waters, leading to formation of pyrite-rich regional deposits in a depression. Aqueous oxidation of these deposits by atmospheric O2 created an acidic environment that allowed formation of sulfates and goethite. Partial neutralization of the solution caused further goethite precipitation and conversion of jarosite to goethite, leading to formation of goethite concretions. Subsequent dehydration of goethite to coarse-grained hematite would also have been facilitated by regional heating.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | L21203 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-5 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 21 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 16 2005 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cite this
Formation of jarosite-bearing deposits through aqueous oxidation of pyrite at Meridiani Planum, Mars. / Zolotov, Mikhail; Shock, Everett.
In: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 32, No. 21, L21203, 16.11.2005, p. 1-5.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Formation of jarosite-bearing deposits through aqueous oxidation of pyrite at Meridiani Planum, Mars
AU - Zolotov, Mikhail
AU - Shock, Everett
PY - 2005/11/16
Y1 - 2005/11/16
N2 - The discovery of sulfate-rich layered deposits with hematite spherules at the landing site of the Opportunity rover is consistent with mineral deposition in an aqueous environment. We evaluate conditions responsible for the formation of a jarosite-goethite-gypsum assemblage with speciation calculations. The results show that the assemblage could have precipitated from acidic solutions formed through near-surface aqueous oxidation of pyrite. Our hypothesis is that regional heating in the Meridiani Planum caused a release of sulfide-rich hydrothermal waters, leading to formation of pyrite-rich regional deposits in a depression. Aqueous oxidation of these deposits by atmospheric O2 created an acidic environment that allowed formation of sulfates and goethite. Partial neutralization of the solution caused further goethite precipitation and conversion of jarosite to goethite, leading to formation of goethite concretions. Subsequent dehydration of goethite to coarse-grained hematite would also have been facilitated by regional heating.
AB - The discovery of sulfate-rich layered deposits with hematite spherules at the landing site of the Opportunity rover is consistent with mineral deposition in an aqueous environment. We evaluate conditions responsible for the formation of a jarosite-goethite-gypsum assemblage with speciation calculations. The results show that the assemblage could have precipitated from acidic solutions formed through near-surface aqueous oxidation of pyrite. Our hypothesis is that regional heating in the Meridiani Planum caused a release of sulfide-rich hydrothermal waters, leading to formation of pyrite-rich regional deposits in a depression. Aqueous oxidation of these deposits by atmospheric O2 created an acidic environment that allowed formation of sulfates and goethite. Partial neutralization of the solution caused further goethite precipitation and conversion of jarosite to goethite, leading to formation of goethite concretions. Subsequent dehydration of goethite to coarse-grained hematite would also have been facilitated by regional heating.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=29344464599&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=29344464599&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2005GL024253
DO - 10.1029/2005GL024253
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:29344464599
VL - 32
SP - 1
EP - 5
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
SN - 0094-8276
IS - 21
M1 - L21203
ER -