Cited by 209Planetary Science and ExplorationAstro and Planetary ScienceGeochemistry and Elemental Analysis

Early geochemical environment of Mars as determined from thermodynamics of phyllosilicates

Chevrier, Vincent, Poulet, Francois, Bibring, Jean-Pierre·2007·Nature

Abstract

Images of geomorphological features that seem to have been produced by the action of liquid water have been considered evidence for wet surface conditions on early Mars. Moreover, the recent identification of large deposits of phyllosilicates, associated with the ancient Noachian terrains suggests long-timescale weathering of the primary basaltic crust by liquid water. It has been proposed that a greenhouse effect resulting from a carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere sustained the temperate climate required to maintain liquid water on the martian surface during the Noachian. The apparent absence of carbonates and the low escape rates of carbon dioxide, however, are indicative of an early martian atmosphere with low levels of carbon dioxide. Here we investigate the geochemical conditions prevailing on the surface of Mars during the Noachian period using calculations of the aqueous equilibria of phyllosilicates. Our results show that Fe3+-rich phyllosilicates probably precipitated under weakly acidic to alkaline pH, an environment different from that of the following period, which was dominated by strongly acid weathering that led to the sulphate deposits identified on Mars. Thermodynamic calculations demonstrate that the oxidation state of the martian surface was already high, supporting early escape of hydrogen. Finally, equilibrium with carbonates implies that phyllosilicate precipitation occurs preferentially at a very low partial pressure of carbon dioxide. We suggest that the p…

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature05961

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  • A long-lived highly reducing atmosphere is not obviously consistent with evidence for oxidizing surface conditions during the Noachian.

    “Finally, a long-lived highly reducing atmosphere is not obviously consistent with evidence for oxidizing surface conditions during the Noachian (Chevrier, Poulet & Bibring 2007).”

    From The Climate of Early Mars (2016) · cites this paper as Chevrier, Poulet & Bibring 2007

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Authors
Chevrier, V., Poulet, F., & Bibring, J.-P.
Affiliations
  • University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (US)
  • Université Paris-Sud (FR)
Corresponding author
Chevrier, Vincent
Venue
Nature
Published
2007-07
Volume
448
Issue
7149
Pages
60-63
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2083184196
Cited by
208
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 28
FWCI
9.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (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
early Mars, Mars atmosphere, phyllosilicates, partial pressure of CO2, greenhouse effect, Noachian period, liquid water, iron oxidation state, hydrogen escape, methane, carbonate equilibrium, clay minerals, Mars Express, acid weathering, thermodynamic calculation
MeSH terms
Carbon Dioxide, Extraterrestrial Environment, Thermodynamics, Water, Silicates, Greenhouse Effect, Mars

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