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A Diversity of Calcium-Rich Carbonates in EETA 79001Carbonate minerals of martian origin are present in several martian meteorites in trace concentrations (less than 1 percent) and possess unique isotopic signatures that suggest that the martian environment and/or isotopic reservoirs are very different from the Earth’s. Carbonates are most common in the older martian meteorites (ALH 84001 and the nakhlites), however, there have been reports of carbonate in the younger shergottites including EETA 79001 (Mars meteorite Elephant Moraine 79001). Acidification studies of Zagami and Shergotty have shown that CO2 is released suggesting that carbonate phases are present in these meteorites, but the origin of these phases is controversial. The young ages of the shergottites makes them important samples for understanding the modern martian environment. The carbonates in EETA 79001 are the best-characterized secondary minerals in a shergottite, but their origin remains controversial. Gooding et al. argued that two types of carbonate occur with-in the glassy parts of the meteorite. One type, nearly pure CaCO3 associated with Ca-sulfate shows textural evidence for being present in the rock prior to it being shocked, suggesting formation on Mars. The second was more abundant and consists of Ca-rich carbonate, possibly with finely intergrown Mg-phosphate, but does not possess any textural relationships indicative of a martian origin. Carbon and oxygen isotopic studies of this carbonate yielded oxygen isotopes that potentially suggest a martian origin as well
Document ID
20190001828
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Niles, P. B. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
ElShenawy, M. (Universities Space Research Association (USRA) Houston, TX, United States)
Sun, T. (Rice Univ. Houston, TX, United States)
Berger, E. L. (Jacobs Technology, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Evans, M. E. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
March 25, 2019
Publication Date
March 18, 2019
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
JSC-E-DAA-TN66442
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNH15C048B
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNJ13HA01C
CONTRACT_GRANT: SAA-XA-17-25143
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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