As I understand the chemistry, the (OH) groups in the Jarosite would convert to carbonate if the rock were saturated with liquid CO2, so we can infer from the survival of lots of Jarosite and the absence of carbonates that this particular rock was never soaked in abundant liquid CO2.
By extension, that would apply to Meridiani planum.
And, gulp, if that's true for a whole region then it might possibly be true for a whole planet!
So right now, my models of Mars are wounded and in pain. Over the next few days I'll see if they can be healed and restored or need to be led round the back of the stable and shot...
(Of course, the chemistry hasn't really been modelled properly for a low-temperature planet, but I'm sure we'll see a surge of Jarosite models in the near future.)
Space/Science » in reply to About Jarosite
Jarosite and CO2
The whole thread (40 posts)
- "liquid water once drenched the surface" (Opportunity site). WOW! LIVENASATV news announcements on now folks. (n/t)
- A virtual toast with my bottle of Perrier :-)
- re: Samples
- We should be careful that the evidence so far is conclusive of ground water not surface water
- About Jarosite
- If It Looks Like A Duckand and Wobbles Like A Duck
- When Squyres said; Opportunity's landing was a hole in one, he wasn't kidding. Cheers to this outstanding MER mission (n/t)
- Thank God for the internet connection to NASA TV
- You beat me to it.... (n/t)