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Follow the water on Mars: Assessing the Mineralogy of FluvialMarine Environments
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Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
The mineralogical record of Mars offers a compelling window into the planet’s aqueous past, with decades of orbital and in situ exploration revealing widespread evidence for ancient liquid water. Spectroscopic data from instruments such as CRISM and OMEGA have identified hydrated minerals including phyllosilicates, sulfates, and carbonates, which are indicative of diverse water-rock interactions across multiple geologic epochs. In this work, we used both of these spectrometers to follow the lead of the Zhurong mission and successfully gathered evidence that could support the existence of an ancient Borealis Ocean in the northern hemisphere of Mars. Particular attention was given to the co-occurrence of opals and serpentines, minerals that reflect distinct aqueous environments. Opals were found in association with low-temperature, acidic conditions involving silica-rich fluids, while serpentines pointed to alkaline hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rocks. Their simultaneous presence in key regions revealed that Mars experienced chemically diverse and long-lasting water activity, underscoring a complex hydrologic history and the potential for environments conducive to prebiotic chemistry or habitability. This study not only focused on promising sites along the proposed ancient coastline but also examined large impact craters, which appear to have excavated and exposed deeper, otherwise hidden sedimentary layers that further illuminate Mars’ early oceanic and climatic evolution.
Descrição
Tese de mestrado, Física e Astrofísica, 2025, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências
Palavras-chave
Mineralogy Mars Water Reflectance Ancient ocean