Phosphates on Mars and Their Importance as Igneous, Aqueous, and Astrobiological Indicators

This paper reviews the phosphate phases in meteorites and those measured by landed spacecraft, what they reveal about past igneous and aqueous conditions on Mars, and important implications for potential prebiotic chemistry, past habitability, and potential biosignatures that could be detected in sa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Minerals (Basel) 2024-06, Vol.14 (6), p.591
Main Authors: Hausrath, E. M, Adcock, C. T, Berger, J. A, Cycil, L. M, Kizovski, T. V, McCubbin, F. M, Schmidt, M. E, Tu, V. M, VanBommel, S. J, Treiman, A. H, Clark, B. C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apatite
Astrobiology
biosignatures
Blake, Russell
Earth
Habitability
Life on other planets
Low concentrations
Mars
Mars (Planet)
Mars craters
Mars Sample Return
Mars surface
Meteorites
Meteors & meteorites
Minerals
Phosphate
Phosphate minerals
Phosphate rock
Phosphates
Phosphorus
SNC meteorites
Solid solutions
Spacecraft
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Summary:This paper reviews the phosphate phases in meteorites and those measured by landed spacecraft, what they reveal about past igneous and aqueous conditions on Mars, and important implications for potential prebiotic chemistry, past habitability, and potential biosignatures that could be detected in samples returned from Mars. A review of the 378 martian meteorites as of 2023 indicate that of the two most common phosphate minerals in Mars meteorites, merrillite and apatites, the apatite composition is largely F- and Cl-rich, with shergottites containing more OH. The phosphate concentrations examined across multiple missions show a relatively narrow range of phosphate, with higher concentrations observed in the Mount Sharp Group in Gale crater and Wishstone at Gusev crater and lower concentrations observed at Jezero crater floor and Jezero fan. Possible secondary phosphates detected on Mars, including Fe phosphates at Jezero crater and Gusev crater and Ca- and Al-bearing secondary phosphates, temperatures of formation of secondary phases and their dissolution rates and solubilities are reviewed and summarized. Despite this wealth of information about phosphates on Mars, due to their fine scale and relatively low concentrations, Mars Sample Return is needed to better understand phosphate and its implications for the igneous, aqueous, and astrobiological history of Mars.
ISSN:2075-163X
2075-163X
DOI:10.3390/min14060591