Tag Archives: carbonate minerals

CRISM: Carbonate minerals in Nili Fossae

This image shows a site near Nili Fossae, a group of long, narrow tectonic depressions called graben, and reveals the presence of hydrated iron-magnesium (green) phyllosilicate and carbonate minerals (shown in yellow). Phyllosilicates, which include clay and clay-like minerals, form … Continue reading

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“Lake Gusev” possible source for Comanche carbonates

The rock outcrop dubbed Comanche in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater is unusually rich in magnesium-iron carbonate minerals. This discovery was first announced in 2010 using data from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. At the time, scientists thought that … Continue reading

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CRISM: Carbonate and phyllosilicates in Leighton Crater

This image shows alteration products in the central peak of Leighton Crater, a 65-kilometer diameter crater in the Tyrrhena Terra region of the southern highlands. This CRISM image reveals the presence of hydrated iron-magnesium phyllosilicate and carbonate minerals (shown in … Continue reading

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Ancient Mars biosphere: deep underground?

Something like half of Earth’s entire biomass lies underground in the form of microorganisms living off geothermal heat and chemicals in the crustal rocks. Could the same hold true for Mars, now or in bygone times? If so, it’s hard … Continue reading

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Mars in the Mojave?

Where do you go to order up some Mars on Earth? Several places, actually, such as the Atacama Desert in Peru (which is very dry), the Dry Valleys of Antarctica (dry and cold), and Houghton Island in Canada’s high arctic … Continue reading

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