The imprint of atmospheric evolution in the D/H of Hesperian clay minerals on Mars

Mahaffy, P. R.; Webster, C. R.; Stern, J. C.; Brunner, A. E.; Atreya, S. K.; Conrad, P. G.; Domagal-Goldman, S.; Eigenbrode, J. L.; Flesch, G. J.; Christensen, L. E.; Franz, H. B.; Freissinet, C.; Glavin, D.P.; Grotzinger, J. P.; Jones, J. H.; Leshin, L. A.; Malespin, C.; McAdam, A.C.; Ming, D. W.; Navarro-Gonzalez, R.; Niles, P. B.; Owen, T.; Pavlov, A. A.; Steele, A.; Trainer, M. G.; Williford, K. H.; Wray, J. J. and the MSL Science Team; DLR Collaborator (MSL Science Team), Reitz G.

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oai:elib.dlr.de:94269

The imprint of atmospheric evolution in the D/H of Hesperian clay minerals on Mars

Authors: P. R. Mahaffy
C. R. Webster
J. C. Stern
A. E. Brunner
S. K. Atreya
P. G. Conrad
S. Domagal-Goldman
J. L. Eigenbrode
G. J. Flesch
L. E. Christensen
H. B. Franz
C. Freissinet
D.P. Glavin
J. P. Grotzinger
J. H. Jones
L. A. Leshin
C. Malespin
A.C. McAdam
D. W. Ming
R. Navarro-Gonzalez
P. B. Niles
T. Owen
A. A. Pavlov
A. Steele
M. G. Trainer
K. H. Williford
J. J. and the MSL Science Team Wray
Reitz G. DLR Collaborator (MSL Science Team)
Publication date: 1 January 2014
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Doi

Abstract

The deuterium to hydrogen (D/H) ratio in strongly bound water or hydroxyl groups in ancient martian clays retains the imprint of the water of formation of these minerals. Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) experiment measured thermally evolved water and hydrogen gas released between 550°C and 950°C from samples of Hesperian era Gale crater smectite to determine this isotope ratio. The D/H value is 3.0 (±0.2) times the ratio in Standard Mean Ocean Water (SMOW). The D/H ratio in this ~3 billion year old mudstone that is half that of the present martian atmosphere but substantially higher than that expected in very early Mars indicates an extended history of hydrogen escape and desiccation of the planet

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Institute of Transport Research:Publications

oai:elib.dlr.de:94269

Last time updated on 28/04/2016

This paper was published in Institute of Transport Research:Publications.

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