High manganese concentrations in rocks at Gale crater, Mars

Nina L. Lanza; Woodward W. Fischer; Roger C. Wiens; John P. Grotzinger; Ann M. Ollila; Ryan B. Anderson; Benton C. Clark; Ralf Gellert; Nicolas Mangold; Sylvestre Maurice; Stéphane Le Mouélic; Marion Nachon; Mariek E. Schmidt; Jeffrey Berger; Samuel M. Clegg; Olivier Forni; Craig Hardgrove; Noureddine Melikechi; Horton E. Newsom; Violaine Sautter

doi:10.1002/2014GL060329

High manganese concentrations in rocks at Gale crater, Mars

Geophysical Research Letters

By: Nina L. Lanza, Woodward W. Fischer, Roger C. Wiens, John P. Grotzinger, Ann M. Ollila, Ryan B. Anderson, Benton C. Clark, Ralf Gellert, Nicolas Mangold, Sylvestre Maurice, Stéphane Le Mouélic, Marion Nachon, Mariek E. Schmidt, Jeffrey Berger, Samuel M. Clegg, Olivier Forni, Craig Hardgrove, Noureddine Melikechi, Horton E. Newsom, and Violaine Sautter

https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GL060329

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Abstract

The surface of Mars has long been considered a relatively oxidizing environment, an idea supported by the abundance of ferric iron phases observed there. However, compared to iron, manganese is sensitive only to high redox potential oxidants, and when concentrated in rocks, it provides a more specific redox indicator of aqueous environments. Observations from the ChemCam instrument on the Curiosity rover indicate abundances of manganese in and on some rock targets that are 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than previously observed on Mars, suggesting the presence of an as-yet unidentified manganese-rich phase. These results show that the Martian surface has at some point in time hosted much more highly oxidizing conditions than has previously been recognized.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	High manganese concentrations in rocks at Gale crater, Mars
Series title	Geophysical Research Letters
DOI	10.1002/2014GL060329
Volume	41
Issue	16
Year Published	2014
Language	English
Publisher	American Geophysical Union
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	9 p.
First page	5755
Last page	5763
Other Geospatial	Mars
Online Only (Y/N)	N
Additional Online Files (Y/N)	N
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page