Carbonates found on Mars

Ref: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

Small amounts of carbonate minerals have
been discovered on the surface of Mars for
the first time. The result could help
researchers better understand the history
and evolution of the planet as part of their
efforts to determine if the conditions for
sustaining life ever existed there. Joshua
Bandfield and colleagues at Arizona State
University discovered that particles on the
surface of Mars reflect and absorb infrared
radiation in a way that exactly matches
that of magnesium-rich carbonates found
on Earth (J Bandfield et al. 2003
Sciencexpress to be published).

See: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

"Sam Wormley" wrote in message
...
Ref: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

Small amounts of carbonate minerals have
been discovered on the surface of Mars for
the first time. The result could help
researchers better understand the history
and evolution of the planet as part of their
efforts to determine if the conditions for
sustaining life ever existed there. Joshua
Bandfield and colleagues at Arizona State
University discovered that particles on the
surface of Mars reflect and absorb infrared
radiation in a way that exactly matches
that of magnesium-rich carbonates found
on Earth (J Bandfield et al. 2003
Sciencexpress to be published).


Magnesite (MgCO3) and Dolomite [Mg,Ca(CO3)2] are the magnesium carbonates on
Earth. (as far as I am aware)...on earth, chemical weathering of Ca rich
rocks are the source. Water in the atmosphere reacts with CO2 to make a
weak acid HCO3 minus which in turn reacts with Ca ions eventually to
precipitate out as CaCO3. Magnesium presumably is chemically weathered also
to react with bicarbonate.

The problem is, how did chemical weathering occur there?...did it actually
rain there once..did it actually
hold an atmosphere to have some form of "hydrologic cycle"?

"Sam Wormley" wrote in message
...
Ref: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

Small amounts of carbonate minerals have
been discovered on the surface of Mars for
the first time. The result could help
researchers better understand the history
and evolution of the planet as part of their
efforts to determine if the conditions for
sustaining life ever existed there. Joshua
Bandfield and colleagues at Arizona State
University discovered that particles on the
surface of Mars reflect and absorb infrared
radiation in a way that exactly matches
that of magnesium-rich carbonates found
on Earth (J Bandfield et al. 2003
Sciencexpress to be published).


Magnesite (MgCO3) and Dolomite [Mg,Ca(CO3)2] are the magnesium carbonates on
Earth. (as far as I am aware)...on earth, chemical weathering of Ca rich
rocks are the source. Water in the atmosphere reacts with CO2 to make a
weak acid HCO3 minus which in turn reacts with Ca ions eventually to
precipitate out as CaCO3. Magnesium presumably is chemically weathered also
to react with bicarbonate.

The problem is, how did chemical weathering occur there?...did it actually
rain there once..did it actually
hold an atmosphere to have some form of "hydrologic cycle"?

why accept the cliche as given that life must be carbon-based?????????
jc

why accept the cliche as given that life must be carbon-based?????????
jc

Sam Wormley wrote in message ...
Ref: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

Small amounts of carbonate minerals have
been discovered on the surface of Mars for
the first time. The result could help
researchers better understand the history
and evolution of the planet as part of their
efforts to determine if the conditions for
sustaining life ever existed there. Joshua
Bandfield and colleagues at Arizona State
University discovered that particles on the
surface of Mars reflect and absorb infrared
radiation in a way that exactly matches
that of magnesium-rich carbonates found
on Earth (J Bandfield et al. 2003
Sciencexpress to be published).

See: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12


Sam,

Are you getting some good images of Mars at your observatory during
this close approach?

Double-A

Sam Wormley wrote in message ...
Ref: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

Small amounts of carbonate minerals have
been discovered on the surface of Mars for
the first time. The result could help
researchers better understand the history
and evolution of the planet as part of their
efforts to determine if the conditions for
sustaining life ever existed there. Joshua
Bandfield and colleagues at Arizona State
University discovered that particles on the
surface of Mars reflect and absorb infrared
radiation in a way that exactly matches
that of magnesium-rich carbonates found
on Earth (J Bandfield et al. 2003
Sciencexpress to be published).

See: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12


Sam,

Are you getting some good images of Mars at your observatory during
this close approach?

Double-A

Sam Wormley wrote in message
...
Ref: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

Small amounts of carbonate minerals have
been discovered on the surface of Mars for
the first time. The result could help
researchers better understand the history
and evolution of the planet as part of their
efforts to determine if the conditions for
sustaining life ever existed there. Joshua
Bandfield and colleagues at Arizona State
University discovered that particles on the
surface of Mars reflect and absorb infrared
radiation in a way that exactly matches
that of magnesium-rich carbonates found
on Earth (J Bandfield et al. 2003
Sciencexpress to be published).

See: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

An even distribution of 2 to 5 percent by weight
has been detected. This is strong evidence that
there have never been large oceans or lakes that
would have left concentrated deposits. Since
carbonates store carbon dioxide this may be
evidence of where an earlier Martian atmosphere
has gone. If the top two or three miles contain
similar concentrations this could mean that the
Martian atmosphere was as much as three times
as dense as Earth's.

Sam Wormley wrote in message
...
Ref: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

Small amounts of carbonate minerals have
been discovered on the surface of Mars for
the first time. The result could help
researchers better understand the history
and evolution of the planet as part of their
efforts to determine if the conditions for
sustaining life ever existed there. Joshua
Bandfield and colleagues at Arizona State
University discovered that particles on the
surface of Mars reflect and absorb infrared
radiation in a way that exactly matches
that of magnesium-rich carbonates found
on Earth (J Bandfield et al. 2003
Sciencexpress to be published).

See: http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/8/12

An even distribution of 2 to 5 percent by weight
has been detected. This is strong evidence that
there have never been large oceans or lakes that
would have left concentrated deposits. Since
carbonates store carbon dioxide this may be
evidence of where an earlier Martian atmosphere
has gone. If the top two or three miles contain
similar concentrations this could mean that the
Martian atmosphere was as much as three times
as dense as Earth's.