IMAGE: The blue-wave rocks in the upper part of the statue are lowered in iron as they were removed during the weather on old Mars. This is geological evidence that iron was lost … a view more
Credit: University of Hong Kong
Both Earth and Mars currently have oxidizing environments, which is why iron-rich products in everyday life develop rust (a common name for iron oxide) during oxidation reaction. iron and oxygen. Oxidizing air has been on Earth for about two and a half billion years, but before that, the feeling of this planet was diminishing – there was no rust.
The transition from a reduced planet to an oxidized planet is referred to as the Great Oxidation Event or GOE. This movement was a key part of the evolution of our planet, and fundamentally linked to the evolution of life here – specifically to the frequency of oxygen-producing photosynthesis. Planetary geologists at HKU have discovered that Mars went to a major oxidation event itself – billions of years ago, the red planet was less red.
The find was recently published in Astronomy of nature in a paper led by LIU research postgraduate student Jiacheng and his advisor Associate Professor Dr. Joe MICHALSKI, both affiliated with the Department of Research for Earth Science and Planning and Laboratory for Research Space. The researchers used infrared remote sensing and spectroscopy to measure the molecular vibration of the material on a Martian surface from orbit, to reveal the mineralogy and geochemistry of ancient rocks on Mars. Through detailed comparisons of infrared remote sensing data and data collected in the laboratory here on Earth, the team showed that ancient rocks on Mars that were exposed at the surface were eroded under reduced conditions, appear to have felt less.
Many people are aware that Mars is cold and dry now, but ~ 3.5 billion years ago, it was warmer and wetter. It was warm enough to allow river channels, lakes and minerals to form which were formed by interaction with water. Scientists who have used mathematical models to constrain early Martian atmospheric conditions have concluded that greenhouse warming occurred, but also concluded from their models that the greenhouse must the introduction of less gases than carbon dioxide, meaning that there could be reduced air it was. But so far, there was no evidence that a smaller Mars sensation occurred early. This work shows that he existed.
This project involved detailed infrared sensing on Mars, using infrared spectroscopy to map minerals in open, weathered rock units. The work was built on a detailed analysis of weathered volcanic rocks on Hainan Island in southwestern China, where there are thick layers of basalt, similar to volcanic rocks on Mars. Jiacheng Liu routinely analyzed the modified rocks using infrared spectroscopy in the laboratory and presented a paper on that research recently published in Applied clay science.
“Jiacheng has done an excellent PhD project, built on careful laboratory analysis and applied the results of these laboratories to remote sensing on Mars,” said Dr. Michalski, “ Jiacheng has built on his detailed work on samples from Hainan Island to show that similar mineral movements occurred in rocks on Mars. “
These results are also supported by Professor Dr Ryan MCKENZIE from the Department of Research for Earth Science and Planning. “This is a rather remarkable study with conclusions that will have a profound impact on our understanding of the early evolution of terrestrial planets and their surface environments. The transition from depletion to oxidizing atmosphere was not the Earth ~ 2.5 billion years ago was possible only because life existed, since oxygen is the product of waste of metabolic processes such as photosynthesis.Without oxygen-producing microbes would not gathering in our atmosphere, and we could not be here.While there are certainly differences in the local conditions that Mars and Earth have been under control during their evolutionary history , my mind can’t help but start thinking about what Jiancheng’s results mean for a possible early Martian biosphere, ”Dr. McKenzie said.
As China’s first mission to Mars Tianwen-1 progresses – successfully reached Mars orbit on February 10 and landed on Mars in May 2021, scientists are preparing for an exciting year of Mars exploration and discovery. This work demonstrates how spectroscopy and remote sensing lead to fundamental discoveries that are crucial for understanding the history of Mars. As we begin to understand the oldest history of Mars, researchers are ready to study directly any possible signatures of ancient Mars, and HKU intends to the heart of this great scientific adventure.
###
About the Research Department for Earth Science and Planning and the laboratory for Space Research at HKU
The Research Department for Earth Science and Planning and the laboratory for Space Research specialize in the application of traditional earth and environmental science techniques and skills to the challenges of modern space science. Dr. Joe Michalski works in the Planetary Spectroscopy and Mineralogy Laboratory at HKU and is the Deputy Director of the Laboratory for Space Research.
Learn more about Dr. Joseph Michalski: http: // www.
For the research papers published in Astronomy of nature and Applied clay science, download images and subtitles, visit Faculty of Science website: https: /
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! they are not responsible for the accuracy of press releases posted to EurekAlert! by sending institutions or for using any information through the EurekAlert system.