Constraining ancient magmatic evolution on Mars using crystal chemistry of detrital igneous minerals in the sedimentary Bradbury Group, Gale Crater, Mars

Valerie Payre; Kirsten L. Siebach; Rajdeep Dasgupta; Arya Udry; Elizabeth B. Rampe; Shaunna M. Morrison

doi:10.1029/2020JE006467

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Constraining ancient magmatic evolution on Mars using crystal chemistry of detrital igneous minerals in the sedimentary Bradbury Group, Gale Crater, Mars

Journal article

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Constraining ancient magmatic evolution on Mars using crystal chemistry of detrital igneous minerals in the sedimentary Bradbury Group, Gale Crater, Mars

Valerie Payre, Kirsten L. Siebach, Rajdeep Dasgupta, Arya Udry, Elizabeth B. Rampe and Shaunna M. Morrison

Journal of geophysical research. Planets, Vol.125(8), e2020JE006467

08/2020

DOI: 10.1029/2020JE006467

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Abstract

Understanding magmatic processes is critical to understanding Mars as a system, but Curiosity's investigation of dominantly sedimentary rocks has made it difficult to constrain igneous processes. Igneous classification of float rocks is challenging because of the following: (1) the possibility that they have been affected by sedimentary processes or weathering, and (2) grain size heterogeneity in the observed rock textures makes the small-scale compositions measured by rover instruments unreliable for bulk classification. We avoid these ambiguities by using detrital igneous mineral chemistry to constrain models of magmatic processes in the source region for the fluvio-deltaic Bradbury group. Mineral chemistry is obtained from X-ray diffraction of three collected samples and a new stoichiometric and visual filtering of approximately 5,000 laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spots to identify compositions of individual igneous minerals. Observed mineral chemistries are compared to those produced by MELTS thermodynamic modeling to constrain possible magmatic conditions. Fractionation of two starting primary melts derived from different extent of adiabatic decompression melting of a primitive mantle composition could result in the crystallization of all minerals observed. Crystal fractionation of a subalkaline and an alkaline magma is required to form the observed minerals. These results are consistent with the collection of alkaline and subalkaline rocks from Gale as well as clasts from the Martian meteorite Northwest Africa 7034 and paired stones. This new method for constraining magmatic processes will be of significant interest for the Mars 2020 mission, which will also investigate an ancient volcaniclastic-sedimentary environment and will include a LIBS instrument. Abstract Copyright (2020). The Authors.

Spectroscopy

Stoichiometry

achondrites

Bradbury Group

chain silicates

ChemCam

crystal chemistry

cumulates

Curiosity Rover

detritus

emission spectroscopy

Extraterrestrial geology

feldspar group

framework silicates

Gale Crater

laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

magmatism

Mars

Mars Science Laboratory

Martian meteorites

MELTS computer program

meteorites

Northwest Africa Meteorites

numerical models

NWA 7034

planets

pyroxene group

sedimentary rocks

silicates

stony meteorites

terrestrial planets

X-ray analysis

X-ray diffraction analysis

Details

Title: Subtitle: Constraining ancient magmatic evolution on Mars using crystal chemistry of detrital igneous minerals in the sedimentary Bradbury Group, Gale Crater, Mars
Creators: Valerie Payre - Rice University
Kirsten L. Siebach - Rice University
Rajdeep Dasgupta - Rice University
Arya Udry - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Elizabeth B. Rampe - Johnson Space Center
Shaunna M. Morrison - Carnegie Institution for Science
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Planets, Vol.125(8), e2020JE006467
DOI: 10.1029/2020JE006467
ISSN: 2169-9097
eISSN: 2169-9100
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell for American Geophysical Union
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100007863, name: Rice University; DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: 80NSSC18K0828
Language: English
Date published: 08/2020
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984295024402771

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