Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 320, Issue 5879, Pages 1063-1067Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.1155429
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Mineral deposits on the martian surface can elucidate ancient environmental conditions on the planet. Opaline silica deposits ( as much as 91 weight percent SiO2) have been found in association with volcanic materials by the Mars rover Spirit. The deposits are present both as light- toned soils and as bedrock. We interpret these materials to have formed under hydrothermal conditions and therefore to be strong indicators of a former aqueous environment. This discovery is important for understanding the past habitability of Mars because hydrothermal environments on Earth support thriving microbial ecosystems.
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