Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to re: Take a look at the APXS data for Ebenezer and Clovis.

Ebenezer and Clovis suggest volcanism
bruced — (archived)

The APXS data is fascinating but not indicative of salt-water
Compared to Humphrey there is a rise in K, Ni and Ti, S, Br and Cl
a decrese in Cr, Ca and Mn
not much change in Zn Si and Na.
How does salt water remove Cr but increase Ti? Or deposit K, decrease Ca but leave Na unchanged? Zn forms soluble chlorides but is unchanged!
What we see here and elsewhere looks far more like the result of the deposition of particulate and volatile emissions from basaltic volcanism.
S, Cl and Br are all common components of such voltatiles on Venus, earth and Io. Changes in Cr/Ni/Ti are indicators of the magma evolving. In the crater, we see C/Br changing with depth as the amount of alteration decreases, another indicator.
As NASA are themselves are saying, the system appears to be water-limited. Thermodynamic modelling of jarosite (which itself points to acid conditons) also indicates limited water. So no lakes, oceans; just volcanism on a volcanic planet.

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