Phase Equilibria Modeling of Low-Grade Metamorphic Martian Rocks

We report on modeling low-grade (up to 300 °C) metamorphic reactions with Martian starting materials

Magmatic Intrusions into the Sulfur-Rich Carmel Formation on the Colorado Plateau, USA: Implications for the Mars 2020 Mission

We report on basaltic dikes in the Colorado Plateau, which crosscut sulfate bearing sediments and compare this to Martian basalts and basaltic sediments in contact with sulfate mineralizations

Rochechouart hydrothermal overprint: disentangling the timing of events through Ar-Ar dating

There is a growing interest in the thermal evolution and fluid behavior of impact structures in the context of their possible influence on emergence of life both in the Early Earth and on other Planetary Bodies. This is largely related to hydrothermal mechanisms at work during the cooling of the hot materials produced and deposited in impact craters. Yet most of the research in this field is focused on theoretical approaches and mathematical models. Ground truth data of terrestrial craters are limited, despite the fact that they are by far the most accessible reservoir for testing models. Even on Earth, few of the 185 impact sites are sufficiently well preserved to yield material that can constrain the key processes of temperature evolution and water availability. The Rochechouart impact crater in the Massif Central region of France exposes rocks that recorded the hydrothermal system. Target rocks immediately below the crater floor are widely exposed within the ~24 km Rochechouart impact structure overlaid by the complete sequence of crater fill deposits in an inner zone ~15 km

Evidence for impact-induced hydrothermal clay mineral formation at Endeavour crater, Mars.

Over 13 years after landing at Meridiani Planum and in her 10th extended mission, Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity continues to explore the rim of ~22 km diameter Endeavour crater. The rim exposes material that is older than the S-rich, layered sedimentary rock covering the Meridiani plains and filling much of the interior of Endeavour. Clay mineral exposures at the rim have been observed from orbit and confirmed on the ground. Clay minerals are thought to indicate wet, generally habitable environmental conditions more suitable to life than the S-rich, acidic waters responsible for the Meridiani sedimentary rocks. However, in order to assess the habitability of the past environment recorded by the Endeavour rim rocks it is important to understand how the clay minerals formed. Do they represent the conditions prior to impact; or do they result from impact-induced hydrothermal activity; or both? Here we present evidence that at least some of the observed clay mineral assemblages formed as a result of impact-induced hydrothermal alteration

Simulating the Martian Chemical Enivronment

We report on new analogue materials to simulate Martian rocks and soils, especially under realistic redox conditions

The Apollo Virtual Microscope Collection: Lunar Mineralogy and Petrology of Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16 Rocks

We report on the new Virtual Microscopes on Apollo 16 lunar samples in our Apollo Virtual Microscope collection

The Physio-Chemical Properties for the Interior of Enceladus

We have reviewed the current physical and chemical conditions of the Enceladus sub-surface environment, including the composition, temperature, pH and pressure. Here we have defined some of these parameters and, through the aid of modelling, will define and refine the remaining parameters needed for our experimental work. Simulations of the chemical reactions occurring within Enceladus can then be carried out to advance our understanding of the internal environment of Enceladus and help evaluate its potential habitability. Once a better understanding of the chemical reactions occurring at the rock-water interface has been carried out, then potential analogues on Earth can be evaluated and known microbial life can be tested to see if it could survive the conditions of Enceladus

Alteration and Oxidiation of an Olivine Lamprophyre Dike from Southern Utah, USA: An Analog for Mars

We report on oxidized basaltic dike intrusions on the Colorado Plateau as analog for Martian basalt oxidation

Geochemical Endmembers preserved in Gale Crater: A tale of two mudstones and their compositional differences according to ChemCam

Gale crater contains two fine-grained mudstone sedimentary units: The Sheepbed mudstone member, and the Murray formation mud-stones. These mudstones formed as part of an ancient fluviolacustrine system. The NASA Curiosity rover has analysed these mudstone units using the Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam), Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) onboard instrument suites. Subsequent mineralogical analyses have uncovered a wide geochemical and mineralogical diversity across and within these two mudstone formations. This study aims to determine the principal cause (alteration or source region) of this geochemical variation through a statistical analysis of the ChemCam dataset up to sol 1482, including the lower to middle Murray formation