Clay mineral diversity and abundance in sedimentary rocks of Gale crater, Mars

Clay minerals found in Gale crater, Mars, record surficial chemical weathering and changing conditions in an ancient lake. Clay minerals provide indicators of the evolution of aqueous conditions and possible habitats for life on ancient Mars. Analyses by the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity show that ~3.5–billion year (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine mudstones in Gale crater contain up to ~28 weight % (wt %) clay minerals. We demonstrate that the species of clay minerals deduced from x-ray diffraction and evolved gas analysis show a strong paleoenvironmental dependency. While perennial lake mudstones are characterized by Fe-saponite, we find that stratigraphic intervals associated with episodic lake drying contain Al-rich, Fe3+-bearing dioctahedral smectite, with minor (3 wt %) quantities of ferripyrophyllite, interpreted as wind-blown detritus, found in candidate aeolian deposits. Our results suggest that dioctahedral smectite formed via near-surface chemical weathering driven by fluctuations in lake level and atmospheric infiltration, a process leading to the redistribution of nutrients and potentially influencing the cycling of gases that help regulate climate.

[1]  D. Ming,et al.  Crystal chemistry of martian minerals from Bradbury Landing through Naukluft Plateau, Gale crater, Mars , 2018, American Mineralogist.

[2]  K. Edgett,et al.  Depositional History of the Hartmann's Valley Member, Murray Formation, Gale Crater, Mars , 2018 .

[3]  Linda C. Kah,et al.  Mineralogy of an ancient lacustrine mudstone succession from the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars , 2017 .

[4]  D. Ming,et al.  Redox stratification of an ancient lake in Gale crater, Mars , 2017, Science.

[5]  B. Ehlmann,et al.  Mineralogy and stratigraphy of the Gale crater rim, wall, and floor units , 2017 .

[6]  Y. Langevin,et al.  MSL Homing in on a Large Smectite Clay Deposit: An Orbital Perspective , 2016 .

[7]  D. P. Quinn,et al.  The stratigraphy and evolution of lower Mount Sharp from spectral, morphological, and thermophysical orbital data sets , 2016, Journal of geophysical research. Planets.

[8]  D. Ming,et al.  Mineralogy, provenance, and diagenesis of a potassic basaltic sandstone on Mars: CheMin X‐ray diffraction of the Windjana sample (Kimberley area, Gale Crater) , 2016, Journal of geophysical research. Planets.

[9]  R. E. Arvidson,et al.  Deposition, exhumation, and paleoclimate of an ancient lake deposit, Gale crater, Mars , 2015, Science.

[10]  D. Ming,et al.  The origin and implications of clay minerals from Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars , 2015, The American mineralogist.

[11]  John H. Jones,et al.  The imprint of atmospheric evolution in the D/H of Hesperian clay minerals on Mars , 2015, Science.

[12]  J. Bishop,et al.  Constraints on the crystal-chemistry of Fe/Mg-rich smectitic clays on Mars and links to global alteration trends , 2014 .

[13]  R. V. Morris,et al.  Elemental Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars , 2014, Science.

[14]  A. Yingst,et al.  A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars , 2014, Science.

[15]  D. Ming,et al.  Volatile and Organic Compositions of Sedimentary Rocks in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars , 2014, Science.

[16]  R. V. Morris,et al.  Mineralogy of a Mudstone at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars , 2014, Science.

[17]  J. Bishop,et al.  Crystal-chemistry of interstratified Mg/Fe-clay minerals from seafloor hydrothermal sites , 2013 .

[18]  R. V. Morris,et al.  Volatile, Isotope, and Organic Analysis of Martian Fines with the Mars Curiosity Rover , 2013, Science.

[19]  Jean-Pierre Bibring,et al.  Hydrous minerals on Mars as seen by the CRISM and OMEGA imaging spectrometers: Updated global view , 2013 .

[20]  Hongwei Ma,et al.  Characterization and Calibration of the CheMin Mineralogical Instrument on Mars Science Laboratory , 2012 .

[21]  D. Ming,et al.  The Sample Analysis at Mars Investigation and Instrument Suite , 2012 .

[22]  R. Gellert,et al.  Calibration of the Mars Science Laboratory Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer , 2012 .

[23]  A. Derkowski,et al.  Nature of rehydroxylation in dioctahedral 2:1 layer clay minerals , 2012 .

[24]  Jean-Pierre Bibring,et al.  Subsurface water and clay mineral formation during the early history of Mars , 2011, Nature.

[25]  R. Milliken,et al.  Terrestrial Perspective on Authigenic Clay Mineral Production in Ancient Martian Lakes , 2011 .

[26]  R. Amundson,et al.  Coupling between biota and earth materials in the critical zone , 2007 .

[27]  Steven W. Squyres,et al.  Alpha Particle X‐Ray Spectrometer (APXS): Results from Gusev crater and calibration report , 2006 .

[28]  G. Roth,et al.  Description of X-ray powder pattern of turbostratically disordered layer structures with a Rietveld compatible approach , 2004 .

[29]  David L. Bish,et al.  FULLPAT: a full-pattern quantitative analysis program for X-ray powder diffraction using measured and calculated patterns , 2002 .

[30]  L. M. Walter,et al.  Mg-Smectite Authigenesis in a Marine Evaporative Environment, Salina Ometepec, Baja California , 1999 .

[31]  Tsutomu Sato,et al.  Effects of Layer Charge, Charge Location, and Energy Change on Expansion Properties of Dioctahedral Smectites , 1992 .

[32]  Robert C. Reynolds,et al.  X-Ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals , 1989 .

[33]  M. Brigatti.  Relationships between composition and structure in Fe-rich smectites , 1983, Clay Minerals.

[34]  L. Heller-Kallai,et al.  Dehydroxylation of Dioctahedral Phyllosilicates , 1980 .

[35]  V. Drits,et al.  The Ferric Analogue of Pyrophyllite and Related Phases , 1979 .