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Identificación de afloramientos ricos en carbonato en Marte por el rover Spirit
Richard V Morris1, Steven W Ruff, Ralf Gellert
1NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA. richard.v.morris@nasa.gov
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 5, 2010
Resumen
La evidencia de afloramientos de carbonato de magnesio y hierro se encontró en el cráter Gusev, apoyando las teorías de un Marte temprano más cálido y húmedo. Este descubrimiento sugiere que la actividad volcánica pasada y las condiciones hidrotermales crearon estos importantes depósitos de carbonato.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Ciencias planetarias Ciencias planetarias.
- Geología Geología Geología.
- Astrobiología Astrobiología.
Sus antecedentes:
- Las primeras teorías climáticas de Marte sugieren un ambiente más cálido y húmedo con una atmósfera de CO2 más densa.
- Tales condiciones deberían haber dado lugar a la formación generalizada de minerales carbonatados, pero la evidencia directa ha sido limitada.
- Las investigaciones anteriores se han centrado en pruebas escasas, dejando una brecha en la comprensión de la antigua habitabilidad de Marte.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para investigar la presencia y composición de minerales carbonatados en Marte.
- Para probar las hipótesis sobre el clima marciano temprano y los procesos geológicos.
- Para identificar indicadores potenciales de vida pasada o habitabilidad.
Principales métodos:
- Utilizó datos de la exploración de Marte Rover Espíritu.
- Analizó afloramientos rocosos en la región de Columbia Hills del cráter Gusev.
- Realizó análisis químicos para determinar la composición mineral, centrándose específicamente en los carbonatos.
Principales resultados:
- Se identificaron importantes afloramientos de carbonato de magnesio y hierro (16-34% en peso) en las colinas Columbia del cráter Gusev.
- La composición de estos carbonatos coincide estrechamente con los encontrados en el meteorito marciano ALH 84001.1.
- La evidencia sugiere la precipitación de soluciones hidrotermales bajo condiciones de pH casi neutro.
Conclusiones:
- Los hallazgos proporcionan una fuerte evidencia de la formación de carbonato en la era de Noé de Marte temprano.
- La actividad hidrotermal vinculada al vulcanismo probablemente facilitó la precipitación de carbonatos.
- Este descubrimiento apoya la hipótesis de "Marte más cálido y húmedo" y ofrece información sobre el pasado geológico del planeta.
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