Testing correspondence between areas with hydrated minerals, as observed by CRISM onboard MRO, and spots of enhanced subsurface water content, as found by DAN along the traverse of Curiosity

The Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) instrument designed to detect neutrons in order to determine hydrogen abundance in the Martian subsurface (down to 1 m deep) is successfully working onboard Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover for more than seven years. The Curiosity rover covered more than 20 km on the Martian surface and crossed a range of terrain types and geological structures of different mineralogical composition.We investigate the possible correlation between the water equivalent hydrogen (WEH) value, as measured by DAN along the Curiosity traverse, and the presence of hydrated minerals, as observed from the orbit by Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) onboard Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. &#160;Our analysis of the WEH value from DAN measurements in Gale crater and the CRISM data, reflecting the distribution of hydrated/hydroxylated minerals on the surface of this crater, shows a confident increase of the average WEH values for the surface elements, containing certain types of minerals, in comparison with surface elements, that do not contain any of them. This increase is shown to become higher for surface with more prominent spectral features of hydrated/ hydroxylated minerals on the surface. Thus, certain types of minerals being parts of the sedimentary deposits composing Gale crater, should have considerable thickness, which is sufficient for active neutron sensing in DAN measurements. To explain the correspondence, one may assume that large blocks of certain mineral composition are distributed over the traverse, the tops of which are observed by CRISM from the Martian orbit, and the volumes of which are detectable by DAN on the Martian surface.The bottom of the crater is thought to be a composition of a uniform regolith and sedimentary blocks of minerals with different level of hydration. The fraction of the regolith contains a standard value of WEH, about 2.6 wt.%, and the &#160;fraction of minerals, provided they are there, might contribute to some increase of the mean WEH values, up to 3.8 wt.%, as they are obtained at some spots from the DAN neutron sensing.

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Evidence for indigenous nitrogen in sedimentary and aeolian deposits from the Curiosity rover investigations at Gale crater, Mars

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1420932112 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 112 (14) ◽

pp. 4245-4250 ◽

Cited By ~ 96

Author(s):

Jennifer C. Stern ◽

Brad Sutter ◽

Caroline Freissinet ◽

Rafael Navarro-González ◽

Christopher P. McKay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Cycle ◽

Volcanic Plume ◽

Science Laboratory ◽

Fixed Nitrogen ◽

Total N ◽

Gale Crater ◽

Sedimentary Deposits ◽

Aeolian Deposits ◽

Aeolian Sediments ◽

Curiosity Rover

The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has detected oxidized nitrogen-bearing compounds during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled sedimentary deposits within Gale crater. Total N concentrations ranged from 20 to 250 nmol N per sample. After subtraction of known N sources in SAM, our results support the equivalent of 110–300 ppm of nitrate in the Rocknest (RN) aeolian samples, and 70–260 and 330–1,100 ppm nitrate in John Klein (JK) and Cumberland (CB) mudstone deposits, respectively. Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and, specifically, for the potential evolution of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The detection of nitrate in both wind-drifted fines (RN) and in mudstone (JK, CB) is likely a result of N2 fixation to nitrate generated by thermal shock from impact or volcanic plume lightning on ancient Mars. Fixed nitrogen could have facilitated the development of a primitive nitrogen cycle on the surface of ancient Mars, potentially providing a biochemically accessible source of nitrogen.

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Estimation of Water Content in Vera Rubin Ridge and Glen Torridon areas Based on Measurements of the MSL/DAN Instrument in Gale crater

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-11196 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sergei Nikiforov ◽

Maya Djachkova ◽

Igor Mitrofanov ◽

Maxim Litvak ◽

Denis Lisov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Qualitative Difference ◽

Bound Water ◽

Data Set ◽

Imaging Spectrometer ◽

Gale Crater ◽

Martian Soil ◽

Notable Increase ◽

Bound Water Content ◽

Curiosity Rover

This work presents the latest results on the estimations of Water Equivalent Hydrogen (WEH) gathered in martian areas Vera Rubin ridge (VRR) and Glen Torridon (GT) by the Dynamic Albedo of Neutron (DAN) instrument installed onboard NASA&#8217;s Curiosity rover. The main science objective of DAN is to study bound water content in shallow layer of martian subsurface down to 0.6 m [1].Extensive scientific campaign on Vera Rubin ridge was started in the middle of 2017 and lasted until the beginning of 2019 when the rover reached another region &#8211; Glen Torridon. VRR is mostly related to hematite minerals that might be formed in the presence of liquid water. On the other hand, GT region is thought to be associated with clay minerals, according to CRISM observations [2].We will present the latest results on DAN passive observations in these Mars areas. Data are referred to the period of more than 3 years of observations or MSL traverse segment from 17 km to 23 km. The main result is the notable increase of WEH in GT in comparison with VRR, as well as in comparison with the whole Curiosity traverse. Possibly, the increase may indicate on the qualitative difference in neutron-absorption elements that are forming the soil of the GT region.References:[1] Mitrofanov, I. G., et al., (2014). Water and chlorine content in the Martian soil along the first 1900 m of the Curiosity rover traverse as estimated by the DAN instrument. J. Geophys. Res., 119(7), 1579&#8211;1596. doi:10.1002/2013JE004553.[2] Murchie, S. L., et al. (2009), Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars investigation and data set from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's primary science phase, J. Geophys. Res., 114, E00D07, doi:10.1029/2009JE003344.

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Comparison between DAN/MSL subsurface water measurements and CRISM/MRO hydrated minerals abundance in Gale crater

10.5194/epsc2020-1048 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Maya Djachkova ◽

Igor Mitrofanov ◽

Sergei Nikiforov ◽

Maxim Litvak ◽

Denis Lisov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Subsurface Water ◽

Gale Crater ◽

Hydrated Minerals

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Background levels of methane in Mars’ atmosphere show strong seasonal variations

Science ◽

10.1126/science.aaq0131 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 360 (6393) ◽

pp. 1093-1096 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

Christopher R. Webster ◽

Paul R. Mahaffy ◽

Sushil K. Atreya ◽

John E. Moores ◽

Gregory J. Flesch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variation ◽

Tunable Laser ◽

Mean Value ◽

Martian Surface ◽

Mars Atmosphere ◽

Gale Crater ◽

Background Levels ◽

Pressure Cycle ◽

Curiosity Rover

Variable levels of methane in the martian atmosphere have eluded explanation partly because the measurements are not repeatable in time or location. We report in situ measurements at Gale crater made over a 5-year period by the Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity rover. The background levels of methane have a mean value 0.41 ± 0.16 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) (95% confidence interval) and exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variation (0.24 to 0.65 ppbv). This variation is greater than that predicted from either ultraviolet degradation of impact-delivered organics on the surface or from the annual surface pressure cycle. The large seasonal variation in the background and occurrences of higher temporary spikes (~7 ppbv) are consistent with small localized sources of methane released from martian surface or subsurface reservoirs.

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Comparison of the DAN Experiment Data on the Subsurface Water Content Along the Curiosity Rover Traverse in Gale Crater with the MRO CRISM Experiment Data

XVI Young Scientists Conference “Fundamental and Applied Space Researches” ◽

10.21046/kmu-2019-24-33 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

M. V Djachkova ◽

◽

S. Yu. Nikiforov ◽

D. I. Lisov ◽

I. G. Mitrofanov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Subsurface Water ◽

Experiment Data ◽

Gale Crater ◽

Curiosity Rover

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A Review of the Phyllosilicates in Gale Crater as Detected by the CheMin Instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity Rover

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min11080847 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 847

Author(s):

Valerie M. Tu ◽

Elizabeth B. Rampe ◽

Thomas F. Bristow ◽

Michael T. Thorpe ◽

Joanna V. Clark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Science Laboratory ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Mars Science Laboratory ◽

Microbial Life ◽

Gale Crater ◽

Sedimentary Deposits ◽

Aqueous Environments ◽

Key Indicators ◽

Strategic Goal ◽

Curiosity Rover

Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, landed on Mars in August 2012 to investigate the ~3.5-billion-year-old (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary deposits of Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) and the surrounding plains (Aeolis Palus) in Gale crater. After nearly nine years, Curiosity has traversed over 25 km, and the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) X-ray diffraction instrument on-board Curiosity has analyzed 30 drilled rock and three scooped soil samples to date. The principal strategic goal of the mission is to assess the habitability of Mars in its ancient past. Phyllosilicates are common in ancient Martian terrains dating to ~3.5–4 Ga and were detected from orbit in some of the lower strata of Mount Sharp. Phyllosilicates on Earth are important for harboring and preserving organics. On Mars, phyllosilicates are significant for exploration as they are hypothesized to be a marker for potential habitable environments. CheMin data demonstrate that ancient fluvio-lacustrine rocks in Gale crater contain up to ~35 wt. % phyllosilicates. Phyllosilicates are key indicators of past fluid–rock interactions, and variation in the structure and composition of phyllosilicates in Gale crater suggest changes in past aqueous environments that may have been habitable to microbial life with a variety of possible energy sources.

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