¹Yu Yu Phua et al. (>10)
Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets) (in Press) Open Access Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008251]
¹Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has explored fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary rocks within Jezero crater. Prior work showed that igneous crater floor Séítah and Máaz formations have mafic mineralogy with alteration phases that indicate multiple episodes of aqueous alteration. In this work, we extend the analyses of hydration to targets in the Jezero western fan delta, using data from the SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals) Raman spectrometer. Spectral features, for example, sulfate and hydration peak positions and shapes, vary within, and across the crater floor and western fan. The proportion of targets with hydration associated with sulfates was approximately equal in the crater floor and the western fan. All hydrated targets in the crater floor and upper fan showed bimodal hydration peaks at ∼3,200 and ∼3,400 cm−1. The sulfate symmetric stretch at ∼1,000 cm−1 coupled with a hydration peak at ∼3,400 cm−1 indicate that MgSO4·nH2O (2 < n ≤ 5) is a likely hydration carrier phase in all units, perhaps paired with low-hydration (n ≤ 1) amorphous Mg-sulfates, indicated by the ∼3,200 cm−1 peak. Low-hydration MgSO4·nH2O (n = 1–2) are more prevalent in the fan, and hydrated targets in the fan front only had one peak at ∼3,400 cm−1. While anhydrite co-occurs with hydrated Mg-sulfates in the crater floor and fan front, hydrated Ca-sulfates are observed instead at the top of the upper fan. Collectively, the data imply aqueous deposition of sediments with formation of salts from high ionic strength fluids and subsequent aridity to preserve the observed hydration states.

^1,2L.Mandon et al. (>10)
Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets) (in Press) Open Access Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008254]
¹Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
²University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG, Grenoble, France
Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons

Using relative reflectance measurements from the Mastcam-Z and SuperCam instruments on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, we assess the variability of Fe mineralogy in Noachian/Hesperian-aged rocks at Jezero crater. The results reveal diverse Fe3+ and Fe2+ minerals. The igneous crater floor, where small amounts of Fe3+-phyllosilicates and poorly crystalline Fe3+-oxyhydroxides have been reported, is spectrally similar to most oxidized basalts observed at Gusev crater. At the base of the western Jezero sedimentary fan, new spectral type points to an Fe-bearing mineral assemblage likely dominated by Fe2+. By contrast, most strata exposed at the fan front show signatures of Fe3+-oxides (mostly fine-grained crystalline hematite), Fe3+-sulfates (potentially copiapites), strong signatures of hydration, and among the strongest signatures of red hematite observed in situ, consistent with materials having experienced vigorous water-rock interactions and/or higher degrees of diagenesis under oxidizing conditions. The fan top strata show hydration but little to no signs of Fe oxidation likely implying that some periods of fan construction occurred either during a reduced atmosphere era or during short-lived aqueous activity of liquid water in contact with an oxidized atmosphere. We also report the discovery of alternating cm-scale bands of red and gray layers correlated with hydration and oxide variability, which has not yet been observed elsewhere on Mars. This could result from syn-depositional fluid chemistry variations, possibly as seasonal processes, or diagenetic overprint of oxidized fluids percolating through strata having variable permeability.

¹Tian Feng,^1,2Arthur Omran,¹Maheen Gull,³Micah J. Schaible,^3,4Thomas M. Orlando,¹Matthew A. Pasek
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (in Press) Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2024.07.022]
¹School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, NES 204, 4202 East Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620, USA
²Department of Chemistry, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
³School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
⁴School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Copyright Elsevier

Phosphorus is often present in meteorites as the mineral schreibersite, in which P is in a reduced oxidation state as a phosphide. Phosphides such as schreibersite have been proposed to be important to the development of life on the earth and may serve as indicators of metamorphic grade on meteorite parent bodies. Here we investigate how synthetic schreibersite (as the iron end-member, Fe3P) oxidizes into calcium phosphates through reaction with silicates under high temperature conditions, at specific oxygen fugacities, and in the absence of water. We find that schreibersite readily oxidizes to phosphates at temperatures of 750–850 °C over a few weeks depending on the oxygen fugacity of the environment. The rate of this process is best matched by diffusion-limited kinetics. Therefore, the metamorphic heating timescale required to equilibrate phosphorus in meteoritic samples with small schreibersite grains (∼1 μm), such as in the type 3 ordinary chondrites (3.0–3.3), was short (10–100 days).

^1,2Aryavart Anand,²Klaus Mezger,^2,3Beda Hofmann
Meteoritics & Planetary Science Open Access Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.14242]
¹Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Göttingen, Germany
²Institut für Geologie, Universität Bern, Bern, Switzerland
³Naturhistorisches Museum Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons

Precise measurements of Cr isotopic composition of terrestrial impactites have successfully provided evidence for the presence of extraterrestrial material and have, in some cases, allowed the identification of the type of impactor responsible for the formation of the impact structure. The high Cr abundance in most meteorite groups aids in detecting extraterrestrial contamination while their distinct isotopic compositions can help with the identification of the nature of the projectile. However, this common approach of detection and identification of extraterrestrial contamination using mass-independent 53Cr and 54Cr variations fails when the impactor type is an iron meteorite because of their low Cr abundances (which are in a similar range to terrestrial rocks). The present study demonstrates the viability of a spallogenic Cr contribution in iron meteorites (resulting from their long cosmic ray exposure times), which compensates for their low Cr abundances and facilitates the identification of iron-meteoritic contamination in terrestrial impactites. Thus, it broadens the scope of impactors (and impactites) that can be investigated using mass-independent Cr isotopes from solely chondrites and primitive achondrites to include iron meteorites. The Wabar impact craters are an optimal candidate for this study, characterized by low weathering, diverse impactites, partial meteorite survival, substantial impactor material contamination, and a felsic target lithology with low background Cr concentration. The Cr isotopic composition of the Wabar background sand, which represents the target lithology, is indistinguishable from the terrestrial Cr isotopic composition range, whereas the Wabar iron meteorites show coupled spallogenic excesses in ε53Cr and ε54Cr. The Cr isotopic compositions of Wabar impactites show resolved deviations from the terrestrial Cr isotopic composition, thereby indicating the presence of Wabar meteoritic contamination. Moreover, the study demonstrates that even an impactor with a non-carbonaceous chondritic origin, such as a IIIAB iron meteorite, can have a carbonaceous chondrite-like signature in ε54Cr anomalies due to spallogenic Cr contamination. The study advocates for a comprehensive investigation combining platinum group elements and Cr (and/or Ni, Ru) isotopes to accurately characterize impactor types.

¹Hussein, Hussein Omran,¹Yaseen, Waleed Ibrahim
Iraqi Journal of Science 65, 2925-2933 Open Access Link to Article [DOI 10.24996/ijs.2024.65.5.43]
¹Department of Astronomy, Space -College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

We currently do not have a copyright agreement with this publisher and cannot display the abstract here

¹Cantillo, David C.,¹Ridenhour, Kaycee I.,¹Battle, Adam,¹Joyce, Thomas,¹Nunez Breceda, Juliana,²Pearson, Neil,¹Reddy, Vishnu
Planetary Science Journal 5, 138 Open Access Link to Article [DOI 10.3847/PSJ/ad4885]
¹Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, 85721, AZ, United States
²Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, 85719, AZ, United States

We currently do not have a copyright agreement with this publisher and cannot display the abstract here

¹Gordon R. Osinski,¹Richard A. F. Grieve
Meteoritics & Planetary Science (in Press) Open Access Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.14241]
¹Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons

One of the most common types of allochthonous impactite produced in hypervelocity impact events is impact breccia that contains melt particles. In numerous terrestrial hypervelocity impact structures such melt-bearing breccias have been termed “suevite,” after the type locality at the Ries impact structure, Germany. Despite its widespread occurrence, the origin, emplacement, and classification of suevite remains debated. In this contribution, we re-examine the nature and origin of suevite at the Ries impact structure. The results of new field and laboratory investigations, when combined and synthesized with results from previous studies, lead to a multi-stage model for the origin and emplacement of allochthonous impactites during the Ries impact event. Following the creation of a transient cavity the so-called Bunte Breccia and “megablocks” were emplaced via ballistic sedimentation and subsequent radial flow during the excavation stage to form a continuous ejecta blanket. At the end of the excavation stage, a mixture of melt and lithic fragments formed a lining to the transient cavity and it is this material that later became the crater, dike, and outer suevite (OS) units. The crater suevite represents the material from the displaced zone of the transient cavity that was transported and mixed but never left the cavity. The emplacement of dike suevite occurred during the modification stage as the crater suevite was intruded into fractures in the underlying crater floor. The OS and rare impact melt rocks overlying the ballistic (Bunte Breccia) ejecta deposits were emplaced as outwards-directed ground-hugging flows largely during the modification stage of crater formation. The OS flows varied both spatially and temporally in terms of the flow characteristics, from being dominated by solid particles and gas (cf. pyroclastic density currents) to a mixture of solid particles, liquid (impact melt), and minor gases (i.e., particulate impact melt-rich flows). These particulate impact melt-rich flows dominated by far. Minor “fallback” of material from an ejecta plume is evidenced by accretionary lapilli in the Nördlingen 1973 core. In summary, allochthonous impactites at the Ries impact structure are not unusual but are consistent with observations from other terrestrial and planetary craters, where melt-rich impactites overly ballistic ejecta deposits both outside and inside crater rims and where melt-rich impactites occur in crater interiors.

¹Surjyendu Bhattacharjee,¹John M. Eiler
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (in Press) Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2024.07.013]
¹California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Copyright Elsevier

We report theoretically calculated equilibrium oxygen isotopic fractionation factors (17O/16O, 18O/16O) between a set of representative O-bearing organic molecules and water, as well as site specific 13C, 15N and 13C-18O equilibrium clumped isotopic anomalies in these compounds, all computed using density functional theory (DFT) methods combined with Urey-Bigeleisen-Mayer (UBM) calculations of reduced partition function ratios. We performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the B3LYP exchange correlation functional, and explored different basis sets, and treatments of solvation. After benchmarking results against prior theoretical and empirical studies, we conclude that B3LYP level of theory and aug-cc-pVTZ basis set with cluster solvation provides the most accurate treatment of this problem within the constraints of our approach. A representative set of O bearing organic compounds including aldehyde, ketones, amino acid and aromatic alcohol are predicted to be ∼24–41 ‰ higher in 18O/16O relative to water with θcompound – water varying in the range 0.522 – 0.526; and ∼ 23–41 ‰ lower in 13C/12C and ∼ 11 ‰ higher in 15N/14N relative to CO2 and N2, respectively (all presuming equilibrium partitioning) at 273 K.

This study is motivated by the study of soluble organic molecules found in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, a significant fraction of which contain oxygen in their structure in the form of functional groups such as carbonyl, carboxylic acid, ester, ethers, and alcohol. These samples also contain oxygen-bearing macromolecular organic matter. We use the fractionation factors presented here to predict the triple oxygen isotope compositions of these organics, assuming equilibration with previously proposed early-solar-system volatile reservoirs and environments of organic synthesis.

¹Devin L. Schrader et al. (>10)
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (in Press) Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2024.07.007]
¹Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
Copyright Elsevier

We report a comprehensive study of the ungrouped type 2 carbonaceous chondrite, Tarda, which fell in Morocco in 2020. This meteorite exhibits substantial similarities to Tagish Lake, Wisconsin Range 91600, and Meteorite Hills 00432, which are generally considered to have originated from a D-type asteroid(s). We constrain the compositions and petrologies of the materials present in a potential sample of a D-type asteroid by reporting the petrography, bulk chemical compositions, bulk H, C, N, Cr, and Ti isotopic compositions, reflectance spectra, and in situ chemical compositions of metals, sulfides, carbonates, and FeO-poor and FeO-rich chondrule silicates of Tarda. We also present new data for Tagish Lake. We then compare Tarda with the other Tagish Lake-like meteorites.
Tarda and Tagish Lake appear to be from the same parent body, as demonstrated by their similar petrologies (modal abundances, chondrule sizes), mineral compositions, bulk chemical and isotopic compositions, and reflectance spectra. While the two other Tagish Lake-like meteorites, Wisconsin Range 91600 and Meteorite Hills 00432, show some affinities to Tagish Lake and Tarda, they also share similar characteristics to the Mighei-like carbonaceous (CM) chondrites, warranting further study. Similarities in reflectance spectra suggest that P-type asteroids 65 Cybele and 76 Freia are potential parent bodies of Tarda and the Tagish Lake-like meteorites, or at least have similar surface materials. Since upcoming spacecraft missions will spectrally survey D-type, P-type, and C-type Trojan asteroids (NASA’s Lucy) and spectrally study and return samples from Mars’ moon Phobos (JAXA’s Martian Moons eXploration mission), which is spectrally similar to D-type asteroids, these meteorites are of substantial scientific interest. Furthermore, since Tarda closely spectrally matches P-type asteroids (but compositionally matches the D-type asteroid like Tagish Lake meteorite), P-type and D-type asteroids may represent fragments of the same or similar parent bodies.

^1,2Antonin Wargnier et al. (>10)
Icarus (in Press) Open Access Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116216]
¹LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, 5 place Jules Janssen, Meudon, 92195, France
²LATMOS, CNRS, Université Versailles St-Quentin, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, 11 Bvd d’Alembert, Guyancourt, F-78280, France
Copyright Elsevier

Previous Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Express observations of Phobos and Deimos, the moons of Mars, have improved our understanding of these small bodies. However, their formation and composition remain poorly constrained. Physical and spectral properties suggest that Phobos may be a weakly thermal-altered captured asteroid but the dynamical properties of the martian system suggest a formation by giant collision similar to the Earth moon. In 2027, the JAXA’s MMX mission aims to address these outstanding questions.

We undertook measurements with a new simulant called OPPS (Observatory of Paris Phobos Simulant) which closely matches Phobos reflectance spectra from the visible to the mid-infrared wavelength range. The simulant was synthesized using a mixture of olivine, saponite, anthracite, and coal.

Since observation geometry strongly influences the photometry and spectra of the light reflected from planetary surfaces, we evaluated the parameters obtained by modeling the phase curves – obtained through laboratory measurements – of two different Phobos simulants (UTPS-TB and OPPS) using Hapke IMSA model. Our results show that the photometric properties of Phobos simulants are not fully consistent with those of carbonaceous chondrites and martian meteorites. We also investigated the detection of volatiles/organic compounds and hydrated minerals, as the presence of such components is expected on Phobos in the hypothesis of a captured primitive asteroid. To investigate their detectability, we examined the variability of the 3.28μm and 3.42μm absorption bands related to aliphatic/aromatic carbon (as a proxy of organic material), as well as the 2.7μm O-H feature in a Phobos laboratory spectroscopic simulant. The results indicate that a significant amount of organic compounds is required for the detection of C-H bands at 3.4μm. The bands at 3.28 and 3.42μm are faint (less than 2%) when ∼3 wt% of organic compounds are present in the simulant and are likely undetectable by the MIRS spectrometer onboard the MMX mission. When the concentration of aliphatic and aromatic compounds is increased to 6 wt%, a positive detection starts to become more plausible using remote sensing infrared spectroscopy. In contrast, the 2.7μm absorption band, due to hydrated minerals, is much deeper and easier to detect than C-H organic features at the same concentration levels. The feature is still clearly detectable even when the simulant contains only 3 vol.% of phyllosilicates, corresponding to 0.7 wt% OH groups.

Posing limits on detectability of some possible key components of Phobos surface will be pivotal to prepare and interpret future observations of the MIRS spectrometer as well as TENGOO and OROCHI cameras onboard MMX mission.