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Boron enrichment in martian clay
James D Stephenson1, Lydia J Hallis, Kazuhide Nagashima
1NASA Astrobiology Institute, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America. jds@ifa.hawaii.edu
Plos One
|June 14, 2013
Summary
Mars clay contains high boron levels, suggesting conditions for RNA precursor ribose formation existed early in its history. Further Mars exploration could illuminate prebiotic chemistry origins better than Earth
Area of Science:
- Astrobiology
- Planetary Science
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Boron is crucial for prebiotic chemistry, particularly the formation of ribose, a key component of RNA.
- Early Mars and Earth shared similar geological conditions conducive to prebiotic chemistry.
- Plate tectonics on Earth has disrupted its earliest mineralogy, making it difficult to study early prebiotic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the detection of an exceptionally high concentration of boron in Martian clay.
- To assess the implications of this boron enrichment for the potential of prebiotic ribose synthesis on Mars.
- To propose Mars exploration as a valuable avenue for understanding early life's chemical origins.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Martian clay samples to determine elemental composition.
- Geochemical modeling to assess the implications of boron concentration for ribose formation.
- Comparative analysis of early Earth and Mars geological histories.
Main Results:
- Detected boron concentrations in Martian clay significantly exceeding those found in any previously studied extraterrestrial objects.
- The detected boron levels indicate that the necessary chemistry for ribose formation could have been present on Mars.
- These conditions existed contemporaneously with the emergence of life on Earth, within early Martian clay deposits.
Conclusions:
- Mars's early geological history, particularly its clay deposits, may have harbored conditions favorable for prebiotic ribose synthesis.
- The high boron content on Mars offers a unique window into prebiotic chemistry, potentially better preserved than on Earth.
- Continued Mars exploration is recommended to further investigate and understand the conditions for prebiotic ribose synthesis and the origins of life.
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