Manganese oxides in Martian meteorites Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034 and 7533

Abstract

We report the discovery of indigenous Mn-oxides in Martian regolith breccias Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034 and 7533. These Mn-oxides occur in Mn-rich regions as nanocrystals mixed with silicates, FeOOH, and possible phosphates. The Mn-rich regions contain up to 34 wt% Mn and typically display large chemical gradients on the scale of 10–20 μm. The Martian origin of Mn-oxides was established by the presence of Mn-rich glass (4.8–5.6 wt% Mn) in the fusion crust that crosscuts a Mn-oxides-bearing monzonite clast and by the absence of Mn-oxides on the environmentally exposed surfaces (exterior and fractures) of the meteorites. Manganese K-edge X-ray absorption spectrum (XAS) of the Mn-rich glass in the fusion crust indicated that this glass included high-valent Mn species. Synchrotron micro-X-ray diffraction of a Mn-rich region in a basalt clast and XAS of Mn-rich regions in three monzonite clasts indicate Mn-oxides in these regions are dominantly hollandite-structured with 67–85 mol% of the total Mn being Mn4+. The fact that Mn-rich regions are present in diverse petrological associations but are absent in the matrix of the breccias indicates that the Mn-oxides formed through surface alteration prior to the final brecciation event that assembled NWA 7034 and 7533. Thus, the age of the Mn-oxides is older than the lithification age (arguably 1.35 Ga) of NWA 7034 and 7533. Together with findings of Mn-rich phases within Noachian and Hesperian sedimentary strata in Endeavour and Gale craters, our results suggest that Mn-oxides are a common weathering product on Mars, suggesting aqueous environment on the Martian surface with high redox potential.

Files

Additional details