Gypsum possibly detected on Mars

[imran10]

If true, this is a clear indication of long-standing water on ancient Mars.<br /><br />Martian water clues go wider and deeper<br /><br /><i>But now, new data from the Omega visible and near-IR imaging spectrometer onboard Mars Express has found a large region - 60 kilometres by 200 km - that shows the clear spectral signature of calcium-rich sulphates, probably gypsum. This means that at least a portion of that northern "ocean" area was indeed covered by standing water for a long time."<br /><br />The spectral data, covering 352 wavelength bands, very closely match the spectrum of gypsum. So close, in fact, that the researchers have called it an "unambiguous detection of gypsum".<br /><br />Opportunity was able to confirm directly that haematite and other water-altered minerals reached a depth of about 30 metres, but the Omega spectra now show that those same deposits extend hundreds of metres deeper. They are also exposed at various levels in the etched terrain to the north - the kind of terrain that Opportunity is now trundling towards at record speed.<br /></i><br />

 

[vogon13]

Calcium, chlorides, sulfates and WATER! Oh, my!!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />It just keeps gettin' better all the time, I'm tellin' ya. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[aetherius]

I wonder if the event that caused Mars to lose its surface water was the result of a "Mars specific" event? Or could the event have also affected Earth? <br /><br />I would assume a Mars Specific event is more likely but the implications for Earth are interesting. <br /><br />Is it possible that the same event affected Earth but that Earth somehow managed to regenerate its surface water while Mars could not? If so then the implication would be that the development of life on Earth could have occured a couple of billion years sooner. <br /><br />Is it possible or is there evidence to the contrary?

 

[alpha_taur1]

Somebody please tell me why gypsum is confirmation of standing water. <br /><br />If we had groundwater high in calcium chloride, and magnesium sulfate (from acidic degradation of olivine) leached from the surface, this could cause calcium sulfate to be precipitated in situ at the boundary as far as I can tell. <br /><br />If this layer was later exposed by erosion, it would show a surface deposit of gypsum. <br /><br />The standing water is an unnecessary complication to the theory as far as I can see. What have I missed?

 

[summoner]

Maybe this page will help to answer some of your questions.<br /><br />Link<br /><br /><font color="yellow">Gypsum is one of the more common minerals in sedimentary environments. It is a major rock forming mineral that produces massive beds, usually from precipitation out of highly saline waters. Since it forms easily from saline water, gypsum can have many inclusions of other minerals and even trapped bubbles of air and water.</font>/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:271px;background-color:#FFF;border:1pxsolid#999"><tr><td colspan="2"><div style="height:35px"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker1/language/www/US/MT/Three_Forks.gif" alt="" height="35" width="271" style="border:0px" /></div>

 

[alpha_taur1]

Yes I know what gypsum is. It's the conclusion that it must have been associated with open water that bothers me.

 

[summoner]

I don't think that gypsum on it's own is proof of standing water, but the fact that they have found so many minerals that form easier in standing water than other means all add up to a solid hypothesis of standing water. We probably won't know for sure until we either go there or send mission specific probes. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:271px;background-color:#FFF;border:1pxsolid#999"><tr><td colspan="2"><div style="height:35px"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker1/language/www/US/MT/Three_Forks.gif" alt="" height="35" width="271" style="border:0px" /></div>

 

[glutomoto]

I started wondering about crystal growth on mars like, might they grow larger than their earthly cousins ? <br /><br />Maybe what is giant size for earth would be normal for mars ?<br /><br />Giant Crystal Cave in Spain<br /><br />Geode you can sit in<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jindivik]

wow, that geode is huge...biggest one ive seen was in one of them rock/mineral/fossil shop things....was big enough for a small person to sit in....just one of them crystals is almost the same size

 

[silylene old]

that geode-cave is awesome! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[bobw]

I like the giant geode pictures, too! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[claywoman]

There is a report out on the Peace rock that contains some sort of sodium, I believe and its deep within the rock....I don't have the link, darn it!!!

 

[alpha_taur1]

Actually Venus has no magnetic field either, but solar wind interacts with the Venusian ionosphere, and this effect may have helped to protect its atmosphere over time. It's interesting that Venus may have has a comet like tail in the not too distant past.<br /><br />"The magnetic flux of the solar wind appears to interact directly with the ionosphere of Venus. This was not anticipated either, and is unlike all other planets in the solar family. Spikes in the Pioneer Venus orbiter magnetometer readings were interpreted as twisted magnetic field lines wrapped around each other like ropes. Alternatively, the magnetic field spikes may be induced in the ionosphere by electric current flows in the solar wind. Once again, the twisted magnetic ropes herald field-aligned Birkeland currents flowing between the Sun and Venus. <br /><br />Another major surprise is the presence of an ionosphere on the night side of Venus. Ionospheres are thought to be formed by dissociation of atoms in the upper atmosphere by the action of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It was thought that the extended Venusian night would be long enough for recombination to take place and for the ionosphere there to disappear. "<br /><br /><br />http://www.holoscience.com/news.php?article=jej1t3c2