Volatile and Organic Analysis at two sites in Gale Crater by Mars Curiosity Rover
by
Enrique Iñiguez Pacheco(Department of Geological Sciences, SU)
→
Europe/Stockholm
Ahlmannsalen
Ahlmannsalen
Geovetenskapens hus (U-building), level 3
Description
Knowing that the environmental history of Mars is recorded on its geological record, the Curiosity rover was sent out to studying geological and chemical features of what has been assessed as an ancient aqueous environment located on Gale Crater. The results from the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument (SAM) shown that martian soils at Gales Crater contains H2O, CO2, SO2, O2, H2, H2S, HCl, chlorinated hydrocarbons and NO among others. Several simple organics were detected, which suggest indigenous Martian or meteoritic organic C sources, but the C source for the chlorinated hydrocarbons is not definitively of martian origin. On the environmental reconstruction of one sampling site, point out that the volatile and organics compounds were adsorbed/deposited in a neutral pH, low salinity with variable redox states environment, opening the possibility to a more life-friendly conditions for present or extinct life.