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Diverse volcanism and crustal recycling on early Mars
Xiao, Long; Edwards, Christopher S.; Michalski, Joseph R. +2 more
The relatively well-preserved ancient crust of Mars provides a natural window into early planetary evolution not available on Earth due to sustained tectonic recycling and erosion on this planet. Mars has generally been considered a one-plate basaltic planet, though recent evidence suggests magmatic evolution resulting in felsic crust might have o…
The emerging archaeological record of Mars
Fairén, Alberto G.; Holcomb, Justin A.; O'Leary, Beth L. +2 more
Humans first reached Mars in 1971, initiating the record of human activity on the Red Planet. As planetary scientists plan for future planetary protection procedures for Mars, they should also consider the developing archaeological record on one of our nearest planets.
Multiple subglacial water bodies below the south pole of Mars unveiled by new MARSIS data
Rossi, Angelo Pio; Orosei, Roberto; Cartacci, Marco +10 more
The detection of liquid water by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) at the base of the south polar layered deposits in Ultimi Scopuli has reinvigorated the debate about the origin and stability of liquid water under present-day Martian conditions. To establish the extent of subglacial water in this region, we a…
Anoxic chemical weathering under a reducing greenhouse on early Mars
Liu, J.; Xiao, L.; Michalski, J. R. +3 more
Reduced greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) might be the only tenable solution to explain warming of the ancient Martian climate, but direct geological evidence that a reduced atmosphere actually existed on Mars has been lacking. Here we report widespread, strong Fe loss in chemically weathered bedrock se…
Surface clay formation during short-term warmer and wetter conditions on a largely cold ancient Mars
Michalski, Joseph R.; Bishop, Janice L.; Fairén, Alberto G. +5 more
The ancient rock record for Mars has long been at odds with climate modelling. The presence of valley networks, dendritic channels and deltas on ancient terrains points towards running water and fluvial erosion on early Mars1, but climate modelling indicates that long-term warm conditions were not sustainable2. Widespread phy…