Amagmatic hydrothermal systems on Mars from radiogenic heat

Long-lived hydrothermal systems are prime targets for astrobiological exploration on Mars. Unlike magmatic or impact settings, radiogenic hydrothermal systems can survive for >100 million years because of the Ga half-lives of key radioactive elements (e.g., U, Th, and K), but remain unknown on Ma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2021-03, Vol.12 (1), p.1754-1754, Article 1754
Main Authors: Ojha, Lujendra, Karunatillake, Suniti, Karimi, Saman, Buffo, Jacob
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/33/445/209
639/33/445/242
Astrobiology
Gallium
Geochemistry
Gravity anomalies
Heat
Humanities and Social Sciences
Hydrothermal systems
Magnetic fields
Mars
Mars surface
Mathematical models
Microorganisms
multidisciplinary
Numerical models
Potassium
Radioisotopes
Radiolysis
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Surface water
Thorium
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Long-lived hydrothermal systems are prime targets for astrobiological exploration on Mars. Unlike magmatic or impact settings, radiogenic hydrothermal systems can survive for >100 million years because of the Ga half-lives of key radioactive elements (e.g., U, Th, and K), but remain unknown on Mars. Here, we use geochemistry, gravity, topography data, and numerical models to find potential radiogenic hydrothermal systems on Mars. We show that the Eridania region, which once contained a vast inland sea, possibly exceeding the combined volume of all other Martian surface water, could have readily hosted a radiogenic hydrothermal system. Thus, radiogenic hydrothermalism in Eridania could have sustained clement conditions for life far longer than most other habitable sites on Mars. Water radiolysis by radiogenic heat could have produced H 2 , a key electron donor for microbial life. Furthermore, hydrothermal circulation may help explain the region’s high crustal magnetic field and gravity anomaly. Based on the analysis of chemical maps of Thorium and Potassium derived in the Eridania region on Mars, the authors show how radiogenic heat driven hydrothermal systems may have persisted on Mars.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-21762-8