Mars: lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere

Summary

Mars is the only inner solar system planet with an observed hydrological cycle and by inference, the potential for life. As such, the surface and atmospheric process acting on Mars have been the focus of billions of dollars in rovers, landers, and orbiters. These unmanned robots, however, do not have the analytical capabilities that are available on Earth.

Therefore, this project seeks to identify subtle Martian geochemical signatures via the in situ analyses of individual minerals in Martian meteorites. Traditional bulk analyses homogenize samples and lose valuable geochemical mixing end-members that are present in an individual sample due to complex mixing processes during crystallization, alteration on the Martian surface, and/or ejection from Mars.

Specifically, geochemical end-members preserved in Martian meteorites can identify the geographic expanse of source regions for Martian meteorites, evaluate the heterogeneity of the Martian mantle, identify atmospheric and hydrologic processes acting on the surface of Mars, potentially identify any biological activity recorded in these meteorites, and, importantly, establish a data base of geochemical signatures to look for via future robotic and/or manned Martian missions.

Due to the extremely complex nature of these samples, the aforementioned project goals can only be accomplished by in situ geochemical analytical techniques that are available at NordSIMS facility at Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet in Stockholm, Sweden.

This project is financed by the Swedish Science Research Council (VR).

Project participants at the museum

• Martin J. Whitehouse

External project participants

• Jeremy Bellucci, Sweden
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• Alexander A. Nemchin, Curtin University, Australia
• Joshua Snape, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Selected publications

• Bellucci, J.J., Whitehouse, M.J., John, T., Nemchin, A.A., Snape, J.F., Bland, P.A., and Benedix, G.X. (2017) Halogen and Cl isotopic systematics in Martian phosphates: Implications for the Cl cycle and surface halogen reservoirs on Mars. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 458, 192-202.
• Bellucci, J.J., Nemchin, A.A., Snape, J.F., Whitehouse, M.J., Kielman, R.B., Bland, P.A., Benedix, G.K. (2016) A Pb isotopic resolution to the Martian meteorite age paradox. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 433: 241-248
• Bellucci, J.J., Nemchin, A.A., Whitehouse, M.J., Snape, J.F., Bland, P.A., Benedix, G.K. (2015b) The Pb isotopic evolution of the Martian mantle constrained by initial Pb in Martian meteorites Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets. 120: 2224-2240.
• Bellucci, J.J., Nemchin, A.A., Whitehouse, M.J., Humayun, M., Hewins, R., and Zanda, B. (2015a) Pb-isotopic evidence for an early, enriched crust on Mars. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 410: 34-41.