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Squyres, S.W; Arvidson, R.E; Ruff, S; Gellert, R; Morris, R.V; Ming, D.W; Crumpler, L; Farmer, J.D; Marais, D.J. Des; Yen, A; McLennan, S.M; Calvin, W; Bell, J.F. III; Clark, B.C; Wang, A; McCoy, T.J; Schmidt, M.E; de Souza, P.A. Jr
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 05/2008, Letnik: 320, Številka: 5879Journal Article
Mineral deposits on the martian surface can elucidate ancient environmental conditions on the planet. Opaline silica deposits (as much as 91 weight percent SiO₂) have been found in association with volcanic materials by the Mars rover Spirit. The deposits are present both as light-toned soils and as bedrock. We interpret these materials to have formed under hydrothermal conditions and therefore to be strong indicators of a former aqueous environment. This discovery is important for understanding the past habitability of Mars because hydrothermal environments on Earth support thriving microbial ecosystems.
