ACID-MARS

Clays in acid environments on Mars

Coordinatore	NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM    more  Organization address address: CROMWELL ROAD city: LONDON postcode: SW7 5BD contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Oliver Cognome: Bacon Email: send email Telefono: +44 020 7942 6690
Nazionalità Coordinatore	United Kingdom [UK]
Totale costo	221˙606 €
EC contributo	221˙606 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF
Funding Scheme	MC-IEF
Anno di inizio	2014
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2014-09-01   -   2016-08-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM  Organization address address: CROMWELL ROAD city: LONDON postcode: SW7 5BD contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Oliver Cognome: Bacon Email: send email Telefono: +44 020 7942 6690	UK (LONDON)	coordinator	221˙606.40

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This project will investigate the origin of aluminous Martian clay minerals (thought to be Hesperian in age) as possibly generated by acid hydrous alteration of silicate rocks. Clays are abundant on Mars, indicating extensive and continued hydrous activity at an early stage in the planet. Such fact has implications for the search of evidence for extraterrestrial life and for our knowledge of past Martian climate and conditions.

Aluminous clay formations on Mars typically contain kaolinite, montmorillonite, beidellite, hydrous silica and, frequently, sulphates. By comparison with Earth environments, this mineral assemblage suggests that it formed by acid alteration of silicate rocks, possibly basalt or the more ancient Fe- and Mg-rich clays that are frequently overlain by the aluminous clays. This project will use Al-rich clay assemblages in acid-altered rocks in Rio Tinto (Spain) as a proxy for the similar mineral assemblages on Mars.

Samples from Rio Tinto will be used to determine the intensity and mode of acid alteration. The crystal-chemistry of the clay minerals will be characterized in detail using advanced microscopy, chemical, spectroscopic, structural and isotope analytical techniques. They will be also investigated using diffuse reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy and their spectra compared with those obtained by remote sensing on Mars. X-ray diffraction and chemical data can be used also for comparison with those of clays on Mars in future rover missions.

This study will (1) produce new results that will constrain the mineralogy and formation conditions of aluminous clays on Mars; (2) increase the spectral library for Mars studies with well-characterized, complex clays; (3) enhance the European profile in planetary studies; and (4) provide the fellow with new, advanced skills in mineralogy and analytical techniques that will prepare him for new opportunities and a sustained research career in Europe.'