Carbonates on Mars

Remote sensing data

The first successful identification of a strong infrared spectral signature from surficial carbonate minerals of local scale (< 10 km²) was made by the MRO-CRISM team in 2008. Spectral modeling in 2007 identified a key deposit in Nili Fossae dominated by a single mineral phase that was spatially associated with olivine outcrops. The dominant mineral appeared to be magnesite, while morphology inferred with HiRISE and thermal properties suggested that the deposit was lithic. Stratigraphically, this layer appeared between phyllosilicates below and mafic cap rocks above, temporally between the Noachian and Hesperian eras. Even though infrared spectra are representative of minerals to less than ≈0.1 mm depths (in contrast to gamma spectra which are sensitive to tens of cm depths), stratigraphic, morphologic, and thermal properties are consistent with the existence of the carbonate as outcrop rather than alteration rinds. Nevertheless, the morphology was distinct from typical terrestrial sedimentary carbonate layers suggesting formation from local aqueous alteration of olivine and other igneous minerals. However, key implications were that the alteration would have occurred under moderate pH and that the resulting carbonates were not exposed to sustained low pH aqueous conditions even as recently as the Hesperian.

Evidence for widespread presence of carbonates began to increase in 2009, when low levels (<10%) of Mg-rich carbonates were found across the Martian area of Syrtis Major, Margaritifer Terra, Lunae Planum, Elysium Planitia, as reported from analysis of data acquired by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) on board the Mars Express spacecraft.

When the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) and WCL experiments on the 2009 Phoenix Mars lander found between 3–5wt% calcite (CaCO₃) and an alkaline soil. In 2010 analyses by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, identified outcrops rich in magnesium-iron carbonate (16–34 wt%) in the Columbia Hills of Gusev crater, most likely precipitated from carbonate-bearing solutions under hydrothermal conditions at near-neutral pH in association with volcanic activity during the Noachian era.

After Spirit Rover stopped working scientists studied old data from the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer, or Mini-TES and confirmed the presence of large amounts of carbonate-rich rocks, which means that regions of the planet may have once harbored water. The carbonates were discovered in an outcrop of rocks called "Comanche."

Carbonates (calcium or iron carbonates) were discovered in a crater on the rim of Huygens Crater, located in the Iapygia quadrangle. The impact on the rim exposed material that had been dug up from the impact that created Huygens. These minerals represent evidence that Mars once had a thicker carbon dioxide atmosphere with abundant moisture. These kind of carbonates only form when there is a lot of water. They were found with the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Earlier, the instrument had detected clay minerals. The carbonates were found near the clay minerals. Both of these minerals form in wet environments. It is supposed that billions of years age Mars was much warmer and wetter. At that time, carbonates would have formed from water and the carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. Later the deposits of carbonate would have been buried. The double impact has now exposed the minerals. Earth has vast carbonate deposits in the form of limestone.

Absence of carbonates on Mars

Geological and geomorphological evidence has reinforced the idea of the presence of liquid water on early Mars. Therefore, abundant precipitation of carbonates from atmospheric and water reactions is expected. However, spectral imaging has revealed only small amounts of carbonates, generating doubts about humans' understanding of geological processes on Mars. To overcome this problem, scientists have proposed explanations that reconcile the absence of carbonates with the presence of a CO₂-rich atmosphere and liquid water.

Cold and dry early Martian environments

According to this explanation, the early Martian conditions are similar to those at present. Essentially, it suggests that carbonates are absent because the planet never experienced conditions that included the presence of liquid water and a CO₂-rich thick atmosphere. Even if this explanation provides an insight in the reasons why carbonates are not present, it is in disagreement with the geomorphological and mineralogical evidence supporting the existence of liquid water on Mars's surface.

Inability of detection with current technology

This hypothesis establishes that the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) aboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft and the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) on board the Mars Odyssey spacecraft are unable to detect carbonates. According to this notion, the carbonates indeed formed and are still exist on Mars, but they remain undetected due to the limited sensitivity of the current tools used for mineralogical detection on the planet.

Secondary chemical alteration

This concept involves the potential for secondary chemical alteration of ancient carbonates on Mars, due to the formation of acid rain resulting from the combination of water vapor and sulfates. The consequence of this process implies the chemical decomposition of superficial carbonates layers, as carbonates are not resistant to acidic pH conditions; acid-fog weathering; and photo-decomposition.

Hidden carbonate deposits

According to this perspective, massive carbonates deposits formed but are hidden beneath several layers of secondary alteration rocks, preventing their identification on the surface. Other alternatives to this hypothesis include: Masking of carbonates as a consequence of the abundant soils on Mars; and resurfacing processes that have covered carbonate deposits, such as eolian deposition and late sedimentation processes.

Inhibition due to acidic conditions

Finally, this hypothesis defends the idea that carbonates never precipitated because the pH conditions of the environment were too acidic to allow carbonates to precipitate, or at least siderite, which is the primary carbonate mineral expected to precipitate first. The acidic conditions are derived from the high partial pressures of atmospheric carbon dioxide, as well as a persistent sulfate and iron enrichment that affect the optimal conditions for carbonates to precipitate.