Post on 19-Mar-2016
description
Selisa RollinsMentor: Dr. Everett Shock
School of Earth and Space Exploration
Transport of Elements in the Yellowstone Hydrothermal
System
Silica on Mars• Silica deposits dug
up by the Spirit.– Evidence of past
microbial life.• Hydrothermal
vents are probable cause of silica enrichment.
Figure 1 [1]
Why Yellowstone?• Hydrothermal Systems:
– Excellent locations for abundant nutrient supply.
– Affect how rocks are altered.– Harbor life and determine which
microorganisms live where. – Concentrations of SiO2 are detected in
some areas.
Hot Spring Locations and Other Present Elements
• Locations:– GOPA– Lower Geyser Basin– Sylvan Spring– Washburn
• Elements:– Antimony (Sb)– Arsenic (As)– Boron (B)– Molybdenum (Mo)– Tungsten (W)
Strong CorrelationsSylvan Spring
0.0E+00
5.0E-06
1.0E-05
1.5E-05
2.0E-05
2.5E-05
3.0E-05
3.5E-05
4.0E-05
4.5E-05
5.0E-05
0.0E+00 2.0E-04 4.0E-04 6.0E-04 8.0E-04 1.0E-03
B (M)
As
(M)
200420052006
Poor CorrelationsLGB
0.0E+00
5.0E-06
1.0E-05
1.5E-05
2.0E-05
2.5E-05
3.0E-05
3.5E-05
4.0E-05
4.5E-05
5.0E-05
0.0E+00 2.0E-04 4.0E-04 6.0E-04 8.0E-04 1.0E-03
B (M)
As
(M)
200420052006
Complex CorrelationsGOPA
0.0E+00
5.0E-06
1.0E-05
1.5E-05
2.0E-05
2.5E-05
3.0E-05
3.5E-05
4.0E-05
4.5E-05
5.0E-05
0.0E+00 2.0E-04 4.0E-04 6.0E-04 8.0E-04 1.0E-03
B (M)
As
(M)
200420052006
Observations and Summary• Molybdenum Concentrations:
– Higher at GOPA– Lower at LGB and Sylvan Springs
• Arsenic Concentrations– Lower at GOPA– Higher at LGB and Sylvan Springs
• Basic solutions present at lower elevations.• Acidic solutions present at higher
elevations.
Acknowledgements• Dr. Everett Shock• GEOPIG Lab:
– Tracy Lund– Jeff Havig– Mateo Hernandez– Panjai Prapaipong
References• [1] Astronomy Now Online:
http://www.astronomynow.com/080522Spiritfindshotspring-likedepositsonMars.html
• [2] Squyres S W; Arvidson R E; Ruff S. Detection of silica-rich deposits on Mars. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008; 320(5879): 1063-7.
Questions?