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Cited by 103Planetary Science and ExplorationAstro and Planetary ScienceGeochemistry and Elemental Analysis

Abundances and implications of volatile-bearing species from evolved gas analysis of the Rocknest Aeolian deposit, Gale Crater, Mars

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Archer, Paul Douglas, Franz, Heather B., Sutter, Brad, Arevalo, Ricardo D., Coll, Patrice, Eigenbrode, Jennifer L., Glavin, Daniel P., Jones, John J. +13 more·2014·Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
DOI 10.1002/2013je004493
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Abstract

The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity detected evolved gases during thermal analysis of soil samples from the Rocknest aeolian deposit in Gale Crater. Major species detected (in order of decreasing molar abundance) were H 2 O, SO 2, CO 2, and O 2, all at the µmol level, with HCl, H 2 S, NH 3, NO, and HCN present at the tens to hundreds of nmol level. We compute weight % numbers for the major gases evolved by assuming a likely source and calculate abundances between 0.5 and 3 wt.%. The evolution of these gases implies the presence of both oxidized (perchlorates) and reduced (sulfides or H‐bearing) species as well as minerals formed under alkaline (carbonates) and possibly acidic (sulfates) conditions. Possible source phases in the Rocknest material are hydrated amorphous material, minor clay minerals, and hydrated perchlorate salts (all potential H 2 O sources), carbonates (CO 2), perchlorates (O 2 and HCl), and potential N‐bearing materials (e.g., Martian nitrates, terrestrial or Martian nitrogenated organics, ammonium salts) that evolve NH 3, NO, and/or HCN. We conclude that Rocknest materials are a physical mixture in chemical disequilibrium, consistent with aeolian mixing, and that although weathering is not extensive, it may be ongoing even under current Martian surface conditions.

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  • The detection of evolved ClO4 in Rocknest suggests that a mixture of (per)chlorate salts is likely present, or they are present as amorphous/adsorbed species.

    “This suggests that a mixture of such salts is likely present, or they are present as amorphous/adsorbed species.”

    From Mars global simulant MGS-1: A Rocknest-based open standard for basaltic martian regolith simulants (2019) · cites this paper as Archer et al., 2014

    Section 3.3 (page unavailable) says evolved O₂ is consistent with decomposition of an oxychlorine salt such as perchlorate; it does not report detection of evolved ClO₄. Sections 3.1 and 3.2 favor Ca-perchlorate while leaving Mg-perchlorate possible, but do not conclude that a mixture is likely or that the salts occur as amorphous or adsorbed species. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • No crystalline (per)chlorate salts were detected in Rocknest above the ~1 wt.% detection limit, but evolved ClO4 was detected.

    “No crystalline (per)chlorate salts were detected in Rocknest above the ~1 wt.% detection limit, but evolved ClO4 was detected (Archer et al., 2014).”

    From Mars global simulant MGS-1: A Rocknest-based open standard for basaltic martian regolith simulants (2019) · cites this paper as Archer et al., 2014

    Section 3.1 (page unavailable) says CheMin did not detect a perchlorate salt in Rocknest and that estimated abundances were below its detection limits. Section 3.3 (page unavailable) reports evolved O₂ and chlorinated hydrocarbons consistent with perchlorate decomposition, not detection of evolved ClO₄. The cited passages also do not establish a ~1 wt.% detection limit for (per)chlorate salts. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The SAM instrument detected a broad H2O release in Rocknest starting at low temperatures, finding 2.0 ± 1.3 wt.% total evolved water averaged over four runs.

    “the SAM instrument detected a broad H2O release in Rocknest starting at low temperatures, finding 2.0 ± 1.3 wt.% total evolved water averaged over four runs (Archer et al., 2014).”

    From Mars global simulant MGS-1: A Rocknest-based open standard for basaltic martian regolith simulants (2019) · cites this paper as Archer et al., 2014

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Authors
Archer, P. D., Franz, H. B., Sutter, B., Arevalo, R. D., Coll, P., Eigenbrode, J. L., Glavin, D. P., Jones, J. J., Leshin, L. A., Mahaffy, P. R., McAdam, A. C., McKay, C. P., Ming, D. W., Morris, R. V., Navarro‐González, R., Niles, P. B., Pavlov, A., Squyres, S. W., Stern, J. C., Steele, A., & Wray, J. J.
Affiliations
  • Johnson Space Center (US)
  • Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
  • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (US)
  • Ames Research Center (US)
  • Laboratorio de Química de Plasmas y Estudios Planetarios Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria Mexico City Mexico
  • Cornell University (US)
  • Carnegie Institution for Science (US)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
Corresponding author
Archer, Paul Douglas
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published
2014-01
Volume
119
Issue
1
Pages
237-254
ISSN
  • 2169-9097 (ISSN-L)
  • 2169-9100
DOI
10.1002/2013je004493
OpenAlex
W2094109327
Cited by
103
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 5
FWCI
4.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 28 d)
Locations
  • Journal of Geophysical Research Planets (publishedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
Keywords
Gale Crater, evolved gas analysis, perchlorate, sulfide, carbonates, Martian soil, aqueous alteration, chemical nonequilibrium, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity rover

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