Sulfur cycle in the Valles Caldera volcanic complex, New Mexico – Letter 1: Sulfate sources in aqueous system, and implications for S isotope record in Gale Crater on Mars
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Abstract
Initial in situ sulfur (S) isotope measurements of the Martian bedrock in Gale Crater have revealed an unexpectedly wide range of δ34S values (−47 to +28%). Generally, it is unclear what processes could have contributed to these large isotope fractionations. Therefore, we studied S sources and aqueous SO2−4 cycling in the Valles Caldera volcanic complex, New Mexico to better understand S isotope fractionations related to S degassing, hydrothermal activity, and low-temperature processes in aqueous environment. Overall, our study demonstrates that volcanic systems show large spatial heterogeneity in δ34S. Magmatic S sources are obvious in steam-dominated H2S degassing and precipitation of secondary minerals from hydrothermal fluids with low δ34S values of +0.9 ±3%. Locally, however, hydrothermal processes have resulted in more negative δ34S values in sulfide minerals (−18 to −4%) and more positive δ34S values in sulfate minerals (−1 to +3%). Major aqueous SO2−4 sources are oxidation of H2S from modern hydrothermal gas emission, and oxidation and dissolution of sulfide and sulfate minerals present in the hydrothermally altered bedrock and crater-lake sediments. The δ34S of aqueous SO2−4 in surface water and groundwater varies widely (−8 to +5%) and is similar to major S endmembers that undergo oxidation and/or dissolution by active hydrological system. Minor SO2−4 contributions with more positive δ34S values (+9 to +14%) come from deeply circulating geothermal fluids and negligible amounts from atmospheric deposition (+5 to +7% in snow). Elevated SO2−4contents are mainly associated with modern and past H2S emissions and oxidations near the surface. On regional scale, however, most of the intracaldera bedrock is S-depleted, thus the SO2−4contents are usually low in the surface aquatic system and younger sedimentary lake deposits formed at times of negligible near surface hydrothermal activity. In general, magmatic-hydrothermal processes apparently cause the largest δ34S variation in S-bearing minerals on volcanic terrains. Therefore, we infer that the measured wide range of δ34S values in the Gale sediments by the Curiosity rover on Mars can be explained by S isotope composition of magmatic-hydrothermal sulfide and sulfate minerals that were present in the initial igneous/volcanic rocks prior to crater formation. Later aqueous processes involved oxidation and dissolution of S minerals initially present in these rocks and led to subsequent formation of diagenetic fluids and alteration products enriched in SO2−4 with relatively large δ34S variation. Additionally, physical erosion, transport and deposition of detrital hydrothermal S minerals from igneous/volcanic rocks might be in part responsible for the measured wide range of δ34S in Gale Crater. These unique S isotope results, measured in situ on another planet for the first time, imply the importance of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids in S transport on early Mars and their subsequent alteration in low-temperature aqueous environments.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Sulfur cycle in the Valles Caldera volcanic complex, New Mexico – Letter 1: Sulfate sources in aqueous system, and implications for S isotope record in Gale Crater on Mars |
| Series title | Earth and Planetary Science Letters |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.10.036 |
| Volume | 506 |
| Year Published | 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center |
| Description | 12 p. |
| First page | 540 |
| Last page | 551 |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| Other Geospatial | Gale Crater, Mars, Valles Caldera volcanic complex |