Observation of > 5wt % zinc at the Kimberley outcrop, Gale crater, Mars

J. Lasue; S. M. Clegg; O. Forni; A. Cousin; R. C. Wiens; N. Lanza; N. Mangold; L. Le Deit; O. Gasnault; S. Maurice; J. A. Berger; K. Stack; D. Blaney; C. Fabre; W. Goetz; J. Johnson; S. Le Mouelic; M. Nachon; V. Payre; W. Rapin; D. Y. Sumner

doi:10.1002/2015JE004946

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Observation of > 5wt % zinc at the Kimberley outcrop, Gale crater, Mars

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Observation of > 5wt % zinc at the Kimberley outcrop, Gale crater, Mars

J. Lasue, S. M. Clegg, O. Forni, A. Cousin, R. C. Wiens, N. Lanza, N. Mangold, L. Le Deit, O. Gasnault, S. Maurice, …

Journal of geophysical research. Planets, Vol.121(3), pp.338-352

03/01/2016

DOI: 10.1002/2015JE004946

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Abstract

Zinc-enriched targets have been detected at the Kimberley formation, Gale crater, Mars, using the Chemistry Camera (ChemCam) instrument. The Zn content is analyzed with a univariate calibration based on the 481.2nm emission line. The limit of quantification for ZnO is 3wt % (at 95% confidence level) and 1wt % (at 68% confidence level). The limit of detection is shown to be around 0.5wt %. As of sol 950, 12 targets on Mars present high ZnO content ranging from 1.0wt % to 8.4wt % (Yarrada, sol 628). Those Zn-enriched targets are almost entirely located at the Dillinger member of the Kimberley formation, where high Mn and alkali contents were also detected, probably in different phases. Zn enrichment does not depend on the textures of the rocks (coarse-grained sandstones, pebbly conglomerates, and resistant fins). The lack of sulfur enhancement suggests that Zn is not present in the sphalerite phase. Zn appears somewhat correlated with Na2O and the ChemCam hydration index, suggesting that it could be in an amorphous clay phase (such as sauconite). On Earth, such an enrichment would be consistent with a supergene alteration of a sphalerite gossan cap in a primary siliciclastic bedrock or a possible hypogene nonsulfide zinc deposition where Zn, Fe, Mn would have been transported in a reduced sulfur-poor fluid and precipitated rapidly in the form of oxides.

Physical Sciences

Geochemistry & Geophysics

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Title: Subtitle: Observation of > 5wt % zinc at the Kimberley outcrop, Gale crater, Mars
Creators: J. Lasue - IRAP, OMP, CNRS; Toulouse France
S. M. Clegg - Los Alamos National Laboratory
O. Forni - IRAP, OMP, CNRS; Toulouse France
A. Cousin - IRAP, OMP, CNRS; Toulouse France
R. C. Wiens - Los Alamos National Laboratory
N. Lanza - Los Alamos National Laboratory
N. Mangold - Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences
L. Le Deit - Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences
O. Gasnault - IRAP, OMP, CNRS; Toulouse France
S. Maurice - IRAP, OMP, CNRS; Toulouse France
J. A. Berger - Western University
K. Stack - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
D. Blaney - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
C. Fabre - Université de Lorraine
W. Goetz - Max Planck Society
J. Johnson - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
S. Le Mouelic - Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences
M. Nachon - Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences
V. Payre - Western University
W. Rapin - IRAP, OMP, CNRS; Toulouse France
D. Y. Sumner - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Planets, Vol.121(3), pp.338-352
DOI: 10.1002/2015JE004946
ISSN: 2169-9097
eISSN: 2169-9100
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
Number of pages: 15
Grant note: NASA Mars Exploration Program CNES; Centre National D'etudes Spatiales CNRS; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); European Commission
Language: English
Date published: 03/01/2016
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984295026902771

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