Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 286-292 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | International Journal of Astrobiology |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 21 Sep 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2017 |
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Keywords
- Raman spectroscopy
- habitability
- shocked gypsum
- impact crater
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
Cite this
Raman spectroscopy of shocked gypsum from a meteorite impact crater. / Brolly, Connor; Parnell, John; Bowden, Stephen.
In: International Journal of Astrobiology, Vol. 16, No. 3, 07.2017, p. 286-292.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Raman spectroscopy of shocked gypsum from a meteorite impact crater
AU - Brolly, Connor
AU - Parnell, John
AU - Bowden, Stephen
N1 - Acknowledgements This work was funded by STFC grant ST/L001233/1. The University of Aberdeen Raman facility was funded by the BBSRC grant BBC5125101. Thanks to Jo Duncan for XRD assistance.
PY - 2017/7
Y1 - 2017/7
N2 - Impact craters and associated hydrothermal systems are regarded as sites within which life could originate on Earth, and on Mars. The Haughton impact crater, one of the most well preserved craters on Earth, is abundant in Ca-sulphates. Selenite, a transparent form of gypsum, has been colonized by viable cyanobacteria. Basement rocks, which have been shocked, are more abundant in endolithic organisms, when compared with un-shocked basement. We infer that selenitic and shocked gypsum are more suitable for microbial colonization and have enhanced habitability. This is analogous to many Martian craters, such as Gale Crater, which has sulphate deposits in a central layered mound, thought to be formed by post-impact hydrothermal springs. In preparation for the 2020 ExoMars mission, experiments were conducted to determine whether Raman spectroscopy can distinguish between gypsum with different degrees of habitability. Ca-sulphates were analysed using Raman spectroscopy and results show no significant statistical difference between gypsum that has experienced shock by meteorite impact and gypsum, which has been dissolved and re-precipitated as an evaporitic crust. Raman spectroscopy is able to distinguish between selenite and unaltered gypsum. This shows that Raman spectroscopy can identify more habitable forms of gypsum, and demonstrates the current capabilities of Raman spectroscopy for the interpretation of gypsum habitability.
AB - Impact craters and associated hydrothermal systems are regarded as sites within which life could originate on Earth, and on Mars. The Haughton impact crater, one of the most well preserved craters on Earth, is abundant in Ca-sulphates. Selenite, a transparent form of gypsum, has been colonized by viable cyanobacteria. Basement rocks, which have been shocked, are more abundant in endolithic organisms, when compared with un-shocked basement. We infer that selenitic and shocked gypsum are more suitable for microbial colonization and have enhanced habitability. This is analogous to many Martian craters, such as Gale Crater, which has sulphate deposits in a central layered mound, thought to be formed by post-impact hydrothermal springs. In preparation for the 2020 ExoMars mission, experiments were conducted to determine whether Raman spectroscopy can distinguish between gypsum with different degrees of habitability. Ca-sulphates were analysed using Raman spectroscopy and results show no significant statistical difference between gypsum that has experienced shock by meteorite impact and gypsum, which has been dissolved and re-precipitated as an evaporitic crust. Raman spectroscopy is able to distinguish between selenite and unaltered gypsum. This shows that Raman spectroscopy can identify more habitable forms of gypsum, and demonstrates the current capabilities of Raman spectroscopy for the interpretation of gypsum habitability.
KW - Raman spectroscopy
KW - habitability
KW - shocked gypsum
KW - impact crater
U2 - 10.1017/S1473550416000367
DO - 10.1017/S1473550416000367
M3 - Article
VL - 16
SP - 286
EP - 292
JO - International Journal of Astrobiology
JF - International Journal of Astrobiology
SN - 1473-5504
IS - 3
ER -