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Article: The Geology and Astrobiology of McLaughlin Crater, Mars: An Ancient Lacustrine Basin Containing Turbidites, Mudstones, and Serpentinites

TitleThe Geology and Astrobiology of McLaughlin Crater, Mars: An Ancient Lacustrine Basin Containing Turbidites, Mudstones, and Serpentinites
Authors
KeywordsMars
clay minerals
astrobiology
infrared
abiogenesis
Issue Date2019
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union. The Journal's web site is located at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2156-2202e
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2019, v. 124 n. 4, p. 910-940 How to Cite?
AbstractMcLaughlin crater is a 92‐km diameter complex crater that formed on Mars ~4 billion years ago. The resulting basin was the site of a large (~3,000 km2), deep (~500 m), voluminous (~1,500 km3) Martian lake circa 3.8 Ga. While there is strong evidence that hundreds of lakes have existed on Mars at some point during the same time period, the geology of McLaughlin crater is extraordinary for a number of reasons. Detailed spectral analyses show that the deep‐water sediments include detrital inputs of olivine and pyroxene, but the lake‐floor sediments include lithologies with abundant Fe‐rich, Mg‐bearing smectite, serpentine‐rich deposits, and ferrihydrite. For astrobiologists, this site provides a treasure trove of high‐priority targets. Serpentinization reactions are thought to have played a key role in abiogenesis on Earth, and within McLaughlin crater, deposits of subterranean and probably sublacustrine serpentinites are well preserved. In addition, delta sequences are well exposed throughout the east side of the basin; such deposits are endorsed by some as the highest priority targets for preservation of organics on Mars. Yet deep‐water turbidites, which might have flowed through hydrothermal environments, may be the most intriguing aspect of this geology. Such rapid sedimentation could have sequestered and preserved any potential organic materials for future exploration by a rover.
Persistent Identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/272168
ISSN
2023 Impact Factor: 3.9
2023 SCImago Journal Rankings: 1.650
ISI Accession Number ID

 

DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorMichalski, JR-
dc.contributor.authorGlotch, TD-
dc.contributor.authorRogers, AD-
dc.contributor.authorNiles, PB-
dc.contributor.authorCuadros, J-
dc.contributor.authorAshley, JW-
dc.contributor.authorStewart Johnson, S-
dc.date.accessioned2019-07-20T10:37:01Z-
dc.date.available2019-07-20T10:37:01Z-
dc.date.issued2019-
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2019, v. 124 n. 4, p. 910-940-
dc.identifier.issn2169-9097-
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/272168-
dc.description.abstractMcLaughlin crater is a 92‐km diameter complex crater that formed on Mars ~4 billion years ago. The resulting basin was the site of a large (~3,000 km2), deep (~500 m), voluminous (~1,500 km3) Martian lake circa 3.8 Ga. While there is strong evidence that hundreds of lakes have existed on Mars at some point during the same time period, the geology of McLaughlin crater is extraordinary for a number of reasons. Detailed spectral analyses show that the deep‐water sediments include detrital inputs of olivine and pyroxene, but the lake‐floor sediments include lithologies with abundant Fe‐rich, Mg‐bearing smectite, serpentine‐rich deposits, and ferrihydrite. For astrobiologists, this site provides a treasure trove of high‐priority targets. Serpentinization reactions are thought to have played a key role in abiogenesis on Earth, and within McLaughlin crater, deposits of subterranean and probably sublacustrine serpentinites are well preserved. In addition, delta sequences are well exposed throughout the east side of the basin; such deposits are endorsed by some as the highest priority targets for preservation of organics on Mars. Yet deep‐water turbidites, which might have flowed through hydrothermal environments, may be the most intriguing aspect of this geology. Such rapid sedimentation could have sequestered and preserved any potential organic materials for future exploration by a rover.-
dc.languageeng-
dc.publisherAmerican Geophysical Union. The Journal's web site is located at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2156-2202e-
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of Geophysical Research: Planets-
dc.rightsJournal of Geophysical Research: Planets. Copyright © American Geophysical Union.-
dc.rightsPublished version An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Copyright (2019) American Geophysical Union.-
dc.subjectMars-
dc.subjectclay minerals-
dc.subjectastrobiology-
dc.subjectinfrared-
dc.subjectabiogenesis-
dc.titleThe Geology and Astrobiology of McLaughlin Crater, Mars: An Ancient Lacustrine Basin Containing Turbidites, Mudstones, and Serpentinites-
dc.typeArticle-
dc.identifier.emailMichalski, JR: jmichal@hku.hk-
dc.identifier.authorityMichalski, JR=rp02225-
dc.description.naturepublished_or_final_version-
dc.identifier.doi10.1029/2018JE005796-
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-85064008827-
dc.identifier.hkuros299223-
dc.identifier.volume124-
dc.identifier.issue4-
dc.identifier.spage910-
dc.identifier.epage940-
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000469247200004-
dc.publisher.placeUnited States-
dc.identifier.issnl2169-9097-

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