Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
6107579
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Geochemistry of a continental site of serpentinization, the Tablelands Ophiolite, Gros Morne National Park: A Mars analogue
Author(s)
Fujiwara, K; Szponar, N; Brazelton, WY; Schrenk, DO; Bower, HH; Steele, A; Morrill, PL
Year
2013
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Icarus
ISSN:
0019-1035
EISSN:
1090-2643
Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
Location
SAN DIEGO
Volume
224
Issue
2
Page Numbers
286-296
Language
English
DOI
10.1016/j.icarus.2012.07.004
Web of Science Id
WOS:000320293200004
URL
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103512002783
Exit
Abstract
The presence of aqueously altered, olivine-rich rocks along with carbonate on Mars suggest that serpentinization may have occurred in the past and may be occurring presently in the subsurface, and possibly contributing methane (CH4) to the martian atmosphere. Serpentinization, the hydration of olivine in ultramafic rocks, yields ultra-basic fluids (pH⩾10) with unique chemistry (i.e. Ca2+–OH− waters) and hydrogen gas, which can support abiogenic production of hydrocarbons (i.e. Fischer–Tropsch Type synthesis) and subsurface chemosynthetic metabolisms. Mars analogue sites of present-day serpentinization can be used to determine what geochemical measurements are required for determining the source methane at sites of serpentinization on Earth and possibly on Mars. The Tablelands Ophiolite is a continental site of present-day serpentinization and a Mars analogue due to the presence of altered olivine-rich ultramafic rocks with both carbonate and serpentine signatures. This study describes the geochemical indicators of present-day serpentinization as evidenced by meteoric ultra-basic reducing groundwater discharging from ultramafic rocks, and travertine and calcium carbonate sediment, which form at the discharge points of the springs. Dissolved hydrogen concentrations (0.06–1.20mg/L) and methane (0.04–0.30mg/L) with δ13CCH4 values (-28.5‰ to -15.6‰) were measured in the spring fluids. Molecular and isotopic analyses of CH4, ethane, propane, butane, pentane and hexane suggest a non-microbial source of methane, and attribute the origin of methane and higher hydrocarbon gases to either thermogenic or abiogenic pathways.
Keywords
Earth; Mars; Astrobiology; Geological processes
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity