Evolved Gas Analyses of Sedimentary Rocks From the Glen Torridon Clay‐Bearing Unit, Gale Crater, Mars: Results From the Mars Science Laboratory Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Suite

Abstract

Abstract Evolved gas analysis (EGA) data from the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite indicated Fe‐rich smectite, carbonate, oxidized organics, Fe/Mg sulfate, and chloride in sedimentary rocks from the Glen Torridon (GT) region of Gale crater that displayed phyllosilicate spectral signatures from orbit. SAM evolved H 2 O data indicated that the primary phyllosilicate in all GT samples was an Fe‐rich dioctahedral smectite (e.g., nontronite) with lesser amounts of a phyllosilicate such as mixed layer talc‐serpentine or greenalite‐minnesotaite. CO 2 data supported the identification of siderite in several samples, and CO 2 and CO data was also consistent with trace oxidized organic compounds such as oxalate salts. SO 2 data indicated trace and/or amorphous Fe sulfates in all samples and one sample may contain Fe sulfides. SO 2 data points to significant Mg sulfates in two samples, and lesser amounts in several other samples. A lack of evolved O 2 indicated the absence of oxychlorine salts and Mn 3+ /Mn 4+ oxides. The lack of, or very minor, evolved NO revealed absent or very trace nitrate/nitrite salts. HCl data suggested chloride salts in GT samples. Constraints from EGA data on mineralogy and chemistry indicated that the environmental history of GT involved alteration with fluids of variable redox potential, chemistry and pH under a range of fluid‐to‐rock ratio conditions. Several of the fluid episodes could have provided habitable environmental conditions and carbon would have been available to any past microbes though the lack of significant N could have been a limiting factor for microbial habitability in the GT region.