Boron and Lithium in Calcium Sulfate Veins: Tracking Precipitation of Diagenetic Materials in Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Documents

  • D. Das
  • Patrick J. Gasda
  • R. C. Wiens
  • K. Berlo
  • R. J. Leveille
  • Frydenvang, Jens
  • N. Mangold
  • R. E. Kronyak
  • S. P. Schwenzer
  • O. Forni
  • A. Cousin
  • S. Maurice
  • O. Gasnault

The NASA Curiosity rover's ChemCam instrument suite has detected boron in calcium-sulfate-filled fractures throughout the sedimentary strata of Gale crater including Vera Rubin ridge. The presence of elevated B concentration provides insights into Martian subsurface aqueous processes. In this study we extend the data set of B in Ca-sulfate veins across Gale crater, comparing the detection frequency and relative abundances with Li. We report 33 new detections of B within veins analyzed between Sols 1548 and 2311 where detections increase in Pettegrove Point and Jura members, which form Vera Rubin ridge. The presence of B and Li in the Ca-sulfate veins is possibly due to dissolution of preexisting B in clays of the bedrock by acids or neutral water and redistribution of the elements into the veins. Elevated frequency of B detection in veins of Gale crater correlates with presence of dehydration features such as desiccation cracks, altered clay minerals and detections of evaporites such as Mg-sulfates and chloride salts in the host rocks. The increased observations of B also coincide with decreased Li concentration in the veins (average Li concentration of veins drops by ~15 ppm). Boron and Li have varying solubilities, and Li does not form salts as readily upon dehydration as B, causing it to remain in the solution. So the weak negative correlation between B and Li may reflect the crystallization sequence during dehydration on Vera Rubin ridge.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2019JE006301
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Volume125
Issue number8
Number of pages21
ISSN2169-9097
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

    Research areas

  • boron, ChemCam, Curiosity, Gale crater, lithium, VRR

ID: 247795253