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Fe-phosphates in Jezero Crater as evidence for an ancient habitable environment on Mars

Author

Listed:
  • T. V. Kizovski

    (Brock University
    Royal Ontario Museum)

  • M. E. Schmidt

    (Brock University)

  • L. O’Neil

    (Texas A&M University)

  • M. W. M. Jones

    (Queensland University of Technology)

  • N. J. Tosca

    (University of Cambridge)

  • D. A. Klevang

    (Kongens)

  • J. A. Hurowitz

    (Stony Brook University)

  • C. T. Adcock

    (College of Southern Nevada)

  • E. M. Hausrath

    (University of Nevada)

  • K. L. Siebach

    (Rice University)

  • Z. U. Wolf

    (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

  • S. Sharma

    (California Institute of Technology
    Carnegie Institution for Science)

  • S. J. VanBommel

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • F. M. McCubbin

    (NASA Johnson Space Center)

  • E. Cloutis

    (University of Winnipeg)

  • M. L. Cable

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Y. Liu

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • B. C. Clark

    (Space Science Institute)

  • A. H. Treiman

    (Lunar and Planetary Institute (USRA))

  • M. M. Tice

    (Texas A&M University)

  • D. C. Catling

    (University of Washington)

  • J. Maki

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • T. Bosak

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • B. P. Weiss

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • A. G. Fairén

    (CSIC-INTA
    Cornell University)

  • J. R. Christian

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • A. L. Knight

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • A. O. Shumway

    (University of Washington)

  • N. R. Randazzo

    (University of Alberta)

  • P. S. Jørgensen

    (Kongens)

  • P. R. Lawson

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • L. Wade

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • C. Heirwegh

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • W. T. Elam

    (University of Washington)

  • A. C. Allwood

    (California Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Phosphorus is an essential component for life, and in-situ identification of phosphate minerals that formed in aqueous conditions directly contributes toward one of the main goals of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover: to seek signs of ancient habitable environments. In Jezero crater, proximity science analyses within a conglomerate outcrop, “Onahu” demonstrate the presence of rare Fe3+-bearing phosphate minerals (likely metavivianite, ferrolaueite, (ferro)beraunite, and/or santabarbaraite) embedded in a carbonate-rich matrix. While Fe-phosphates have been inferred previously on Mars, this work presents the most definitive in-situ identification of martian Fe-phosphate minerals to date, using textural, chemical, spectral, and diffraction analyses of discrete green-blue grains. The Fe-phosphate minerals’ textural context along with comparisons to Earth analogs suggest they likely formed after oxidation of Fe2+-phosphate vivianite, the most common Fe-phosphate in sedimentary environments on Earth, often associated with microbial activity and organics. While there is no obvious evidence of biological inputs in Onahu, if the Fe-phosphates’ formation environment was similar to vivianite-rich sedimentary environments on Earth, these minerals likely originally precipitated in conditions favorable to potential martian life — in a low temperature, reducing aqueous medium with high concentrations of bio-limiting elements, and Fe-redox gradients that could provide an energy source. If the sample collected from Onahu (Otis_Peak) is returned to Earth, analysis of the Fe-phosphates may provide new insights into ancient habitable environments on Mars.

Suggested Citation

  • T. V. Kizovski & M. E. Schmidt & L. O’Neil & M. W. M. Jones & N. J. Tosca & D. A. Klevang & J. A. Hurowitz & C. T. Adcock & E. M. Hausrath & K. L. Siebach & Z. U. Wolf & S. Sharma & S. J. VanBommel & , 2025. "Fe-phosphates in Jezero Crater as evidence for an ancient habitable environment on Mars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60026-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60026-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiacheng Liu & Joseph R. Michalski & Zhicheng Wang & Wen-Sheng Gao, 2024. "Atmospheric oxidation drove climate change on Noachian Mars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Matthew P. Brady & Rosalie Tostevin & Nicholas J. Tosca, 2022. "Marine phosphate availability and the chemical origins of life on Earth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
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