Sampling of palaeo-water and biomolecules from surface deposits on Mars

John Parnell*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Fluid inclusions entrapped in mineral cements and healed microfractures represent an important source of information on the ambient environment during mineral precipitation. This includes minerals precipitated in relatively low-temperature, surficial environments, which have been identified as targets for exploration for life on the Martian surface. As inclusion fluids are sealed from alteration, they preserve a record of the environment at a time when water was present. The most direct value of inclusions would be in biomolecular signatures in aqueous fluids, or physical remains of micro-organisms held in the fluids. High-resolution sensing techniques for organic molecules could analyse inclusion fluids released in situ on Mars or from returned samples.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)395-398
Number of pages4
JournalEuropean Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP
Issue number518
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2002
EventProceedings of the Second European Workshop on Exo-Astrobiology - Graz, Austria
Duration: 16 Sept 200219 Sept 2002

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