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Cited by 42Planetary Science and ExplorationAstro and Planetary ScienceSpace Science and Extraterrestrial Life

Sulfate Minerals: A Problem for the Detection of Organic Compounds on Mars?

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Lewis, James M.T., Watson, Jonathan S., Najorka, Jens, Luong, Duy, Sephton, Mark A.·2015·Astrobiology
DOI 10.1089/ast.2014.1160PMC PMC4363818
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Abstract

The search for in situ organic matter on Mars involves encounters with minerals and requires an understanding of their influence on lander and rover experiments. Inorganic host materials can be helpful by aiding the preservation of organic compounds or unhelpful by causing the destruction of organic matter during thermal extraction steps. Perchlorates are recognized as confounding minerals for thermal degradation studies. On heating, perchlorates can decompose to produce oxygen, which then oxidizes organic matter. Other common minerals on Mars, such as sulfates, may also produce oxygen upon thermal decay, presenting an additional complication. Different sulfate species decompose within a large range of temperatures. We performed a series of experiments on a sample containing the ferric sulfate jarosite. The sulfate ions within jarosite break down from 500°C. Carbon dioxide detected during heating of the sample was attributed to oxidation of organic matter. A laboratory standard of ferric sulfate hydrate released sulfur dioxide from 550°C, and an oxygen peak was detected in the products. Calcium sulfate did not decompose below 1000°C. Oxygen released from sulfate minerals may have already affected organic compound detection during in situ thermal experiments on Mars missions. A combination of preliminary mineralogical analyses and suitably selected pyrolysis temperatures may increase future success in the search for past or present life on Mars. Key Words: Mars—Life detection—Geochemistry—Organic matter—Jarosite. Astrobiology 15, 247–258.

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  • Sulfate minerals, such as jarosite and ferric sulfates, will break down at 500-600°C, leading to evolution of SO2 and O2, inducing oxidation of organic matter and subsequent evolution of CO2.

    “For instance, sulfate minerals, such as jarosite and ferric sulfates, will break down at 500-600˚C, both of which lead to the evolution of SO 2 and O 2 , inducing the oxidation of organic matter and subsequent evolution of CO 2 (Lewis et al., 2015).”

    From Simple and effective remediation strategies of Martian perchlorates (2026) · cites this paper as Lewis et al., 2015

    Results §3.6 reports that both samples began producing SO₂ around 500–600°C and that oxygen from jarosite decomposition could oxidize organic carbon to CO₂. But oxygen was not detected from the natural jarosite clay; it was detectable from ferric sulfate hydrate only at 600°C and above. The claim overstates the evidence by saying both minerals evolved detectable O₂ at 500–600°C and induced organic-matter oxidation. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Lewis, J. M. T., Watson, J. S., Najorka, J., Luong, D., & Sephton, M. A.
Affiliations
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • Natural History Museum (GB)
Corresponding author
Lewis, James M.T.
ORCID
Venue
Astrobiology
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2015-03
Volume
15
Issue
3
Pages
247-258
ISSN
  • 1531-1074 (ISSN-L)
  • 1557-8070
DOI
10.1089/ast.2014.1160
PMC
PMC4363818
OpenAlex
W2033314111
Cited by
42
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3
FWCI
2.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Astrobiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Leverhulme Trust
  • Science and Technology Facilities Council (1160592)
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 › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Keywords
sulfate minerals, jarosite, ferric sulfate, organic matter preservation, organic matter oxidation, thermal decomposition, perchlorate, Mars, pyrolysis temperature, sulfur dioxide emissions, oxygen release, calcium sulfate, life detection
MeSH terms
Extraterrestrial Environment, Hot Temperature, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Minerals, Organic Chemicals, Sulfates, X-Ray Diffraction, Mars

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