Volcanically Driven Hydrothermal Systems on Post‐Noachian Mars: Hotspots of Habitability on a Changing Planet
J.R. Skok and J.F. Mustard Brown University with B. Ehlmann, R. Milliken, S. Murchie Exploring Mars Habitability Lisbon, Portugal June 13, 2011 Detailed View of Terrestrial Volcanic Hydrothermal System
• System driven by heat from magmatic chamber. • Increased thermal gradient heats ground water and may contain magmatic sourced waters. • Dissolution of mafic minerals would create silica saturated fluids. • Deposition of silica, sulfates, travertines and oxides occur nears vents and hot springs. Pirajno and Kranendonk 2005
Proposed Sites of Hydrothermal Systems on Mars
Apollinaris Mons
Lava‐Rock Home Plate, Gusev interaction to Crater. Squyres et al 2007 create rootless cones. South of Elysium HiRISE PSP_002622_1820
Syrtis Major Volcanic Complex
Nili Fossae
Isidis Basin Syrtis Major
Nili Patera
Nili Patera Caldera
Nili 400 m elevation Fossae
Isidis Basin Syrtis Major
Nili Patera
30km CTX:P04_002427_1888_XI_08N292W High Silica THEMIS:I09472026: 9,7,5 DCS Detection
Nili Fossae
Isidis Basin Syrtis Major
Nili Patera
30km 10 km CTX:P04_002427_1888_XI_08N292W THEMIS:I09472026: 9,7,5 DCS Nili Patera Cone
Nili Fossae
Isidis Basin Syrtis Major
Nili Patera
10 km CTX:P04_002427_1888_XI_08N292W THEMIS:I09472026: 9,7,5 DCS Light‐toned Deposits
10 km Calibrated CRISM Spectra
10 km FRT000010628 Ratioed Spectra
2.212.21 µm µm
Hawaiian Volcanic Silica 2.21µm
Position and shape of 2.21 µm FRT000010628 are consistent with Si‐OH. Spectral Reproduction with Super resolution
CRISM Super resolution ~10m/pixel 150m
CRISM 18m/pixel
Super Resolution
80 pixels FRT000010628 160 pixels FRT0001DE11 Nili Patera Volcanic Cone
CTX‐CRISM Composite on CTX Stereo DEM 5x Nili Patera Volcanic Cone
CTX‐CRISM Composite on CTX Stereo DEM 5x HiRISE:ESP_013582_1895 Fan Deposit
400m
HiRISE:ESP_013582_1895 South Deposit
HiRISE:ESP_013582_1895
200m
Review of Nili Patera Hydrothermal System Model
• Complex Syrtis Major caldera Nili Patera Cone indicated several eruptive episodes. Hiesinger and Head 2004 • Dacite bearing flow in Nili Patera would require magmatic differentiation and a long lived system. Christensen et al. 2005
• Silica is deposited on the flank of the cone, in nearby mounds and in a field of deposits on the dacitic flows. Pirajno and Kranendonk 2005
Habitability of Volcanic Hydrothermal Systems on Mars
• Hydrothermal Systems would Yellowstone provide high water, energy and habitability for duration of magmatic body. • Volcanic hot spring environments may provide habitable pathway between deep hydrosphere / possible deep biosphere and the surface. • Systems would deposit silica sinter, an ideal substance for preserving biosignatures. Farmer and Des Marais 1999
Nili Patera