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The Imprint of Atmospheric Evolution in the D/H of Hesperian Clay Minerals on MarsThe deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio in strongly bound water or hydroxyl groups in ancient Martian clays retains the imprint of the water of formation of these minerals. Curiosity's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) experiment measured thermally evolved water and hydrogen gas released between 550 degrees Centigrade and 950 degrees Centigrade from samples of Hesperian-era Gale crater smectite to determine this isotope ratio. The D/H value is 3.0 (plus or minus 0.2) times the ratio in standard mean ocean water. The D/H ratio in this approximately 3-billion-year-old mudstone, which is half that of the present Martian atmosphere but substantially higher than that expected in very early Mars, indicates an extended history of hydrogen escape and desiccation of the planet.
Document ID
20160007406
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Mahaffy, P. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Webster, C. R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Stern, J. C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Brunner, A. E.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Atreya, S. K.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Conrad, P. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Domagal-Goldman, S.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Eigenbrode, J. L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Flesch, G. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Christensen, L. E.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Franz, H. B.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Glavin, D. P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Jones, J. H.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
McAdam, A. C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Pavlov, A. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Trainer, M. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Williford, K. H.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
June 9, 2016
Publication Date
December 16, 2014
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Volume: 347
Issue: 6220
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN32645
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG06EO90A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX12AD03A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Deuterium
Hydrogen
Imprint

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