Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars

T. Bosak; D. L. Shuster; E. L. Scheller; S. Siljeström; M. J. Zawaski; L. Mandon; J. I. Simon; B. P. Weiss; K. M. Stack; E. N. Mansbach; A. H. Treiman; K. C. Benison; A. J. Brown; A. D. Czaja; K. A. Farley; E. M. Hausrath; K. Hickman-Lewis; C. D.K. Herd; J. R. Johnson; L. E. Mayhew; M. E. Minitti; K. H. Williford; B. V. Wogsland; M. P. Zorzano; A. C. Allwood; H. E.F. Amundsen; J. F. Bell; K. Benzerara; S. Bernard; O. Beyssac; D. K. Buckner; M. Cable; F. Calef; G. Caravaca; D. C. Catling; E. Clavé; E. Cloutis; B. A. Cohen; A. Cousin; E. Dehouck; A. G. Fairén; D. T. Flannery; T. Fornaro; O. Forni; T. Fouchet; E. Gibbons; F. Gomez Gomez; S. Gupta; K. P. Hand; J. A. Hurowitz; H. Kalucha; D. A.K. Pedersen; G. Lopes-Reyes; J. N. Maki; S. Maurice; J. I. Nuñez; N. Randazzo; J. W. Rice; C. Royer; M. A. Sephton; S. Sharma; A. Steele; C. D. Tate; K. Uckert; A. Udry; R. C. Wiens; A. Williams

doi:10.1029/2024AV001241

Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars

T. Bosak^*, D. L. Shuster^*, E. L. Scheller, S. Siljeström, M. J. Zawaski, L. Mandon, J. I. Simon, B. P. Weiss, K. M. Stack, E. N. Mansbach, A. H. Treiman, K. C. Benison, A. J. Brown, A. D. Czaja, K. A. Farley, E. M. Hausrath, K. Hickman-Lewis, C. D.K. Herd, J. R. Johnson, L. E. MayhewM. E. Minitti, K. H. Williford, B. V. Wogsland, M. P. Zorzano, A. C. Allwood, H. E.F. Amundsen, J. F. Bell, K. Benzerara, S. Bernard, O. Beyssac, D. K. Buckner, M. Cable, F. Calef, G. Caravaca, D. C. Catling, E. Clavé, E. Cloutis, B. A. Cohen, A. Cousin, E. Dehouck, A. G. Fairén, D. T. Flannery, T. Fornaro, O. Forni, T. Fouchet, E. Gibbons, F. Gomez Gomez, S. Gupta, K. P. Hand, J. A. Hurowitz, H. Kalucha, D. A.K. Pedersen, G. Lopes-Reyes, J. N. Maki, S. Maurice, J. I. Nuñez, N. Randazzo, J. W. Rice, C. Royer, M. A. Sephton, S. Sharma, A. Steele, C. D. Tate, K. Uckert, A. Udry, R. C. Wiens, A. Williams

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

The Perseverance rover has collected seven oriented samples of sedimentary rocks, all likely older than the oldest signs of widespread life on Earth, at the exposed base of the western fan in Jezero crater, Mars. The samples include a sulfate- and clay-bearing mudstone and sandstone, a fluvial sandstone from a stratigraphically low position at the fan front, and a carbonate-bearing sandstone deposited above the sulfate-bearing strata. All samples contain aqueously precipitated materials and most or all were aqueously deposited. Although the rover instruments have not confidently detected organic matter in the rocks from the fan front, the much more sensitive terrestrial instruments will still be able to search for remnants of prebiotic chemistries and past life, and study Mars's past habitability in the samples returned to Earth. The hydrated, sulfate-bearing mudstone has the highest potential to preserve organic matter and biosignatures, whereas the carbonate-bearing sandstones can be used to constrain when and for how long Jezero crater contained liquid water. Returned sample science analyses of sulfate, carbonate, clay, phosphate and igneous minerals as well as trace metals and volatiles that are present in the samples acquired at the fan front would provide transformative insights into past habitable environments on Mars, the evolution of its magnetic field, atmosphere and climate and the past and present cycling of atmospheric and crustal water, sulfur and carbon.

Original language	English
Article number	e2024AV001241
Journal	AGU Advances
Volume	5
Issue number	4
Number of pages	21
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2024AV001241
Publication status	Published - 2024

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Bosak, T., Shuster, D. L., Scheller, E. L., Siljeström, S., Zawaski, M. J., Mandon, L., Simon, J. I., Weiss, B. P., Stack, K. M., Mansbach, E. N., Treiman, A. H., Benison, K. C., Brown, A. J., Czaja, A. D., Farley, K. A., Hausrath, E. M., Hickman-Lewis, K., Herd, C. D. K., Johnson, J. R., ... Williams, A. (2024). Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars. AGU Advances, 5(4), Article e2024AV001241. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024AV001241

@article{18f29ca569a741698c25c76d1418cb0b,

title = "Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars",

abstract = "The Perseverance rover has collected seven oriented samples of sedimentary rocks, all likely older than the oldest signs of widespread life on Earth, at the exposed base of the western fan in Jezero crater, Mars. The samples include a sulfate- and clay-bearing mudstone and sandstone, a fluvial sandstone from a stratigraphically low position at the fan front, and a carbonate-bearing sandstone deposited above the sulfate-bearing strata. All samples contain aqueously precipitated materials and most or all were aqueously deposited. Although the rover instruments have not confidently detected organic matter in the rocks from the fan front, the much more sensitive terrestrial instruments will still be able to search for remnants of prebiotic chemistries and past life, and study Mars's past habitability in the samples returned to Earth. The hydrated, sulfate-bearing mudstone has the highest potential to preserve organic matter and biosignatures, whereas the carbonate-bearing sandstones can be used to constrain when and for how long Jezero crater contained liquid water. Returned sample science analyses of sulfate, carbonate, clay, phosphate and igneous minerals as well as trace metals and volatiles that are present in the samples acquired at the fan front would provide transformative insights into past habitable environments on Mars, the evolution of its magnetic field, atmosphere and climate and the past and present cycling of atmospheric and crustal water, sulfur and carbon.",

author = "T. Bosak and Shuster, {D. L.} and Scheller, {E. L.} and S. Siljestr{\"o}m and Zawaski, {M. J.} and L. Mandon and Simon, {J. I.} and Weiss, {B. P.} and Stack, {K. M.} and Mansbach, {E. N.} and Treiman, {A. H.} and Benison, {K. C.} and Brown, {A. J.} and Czaja, {A. D.} and Farley, {K. A.} and Hausrath, {E. M.} and K. Hickman-Lewis and Herd, {C. D.K.} and Johnson, {J. R.} and Mayhew, {L. E.} and Minitti, {M. E.} and Williford, {K. H.} and Wogsland, {B. V.} and Zorzano, {M. P.} and Allwood, {A. C.} and Amundsen, {H. E.F.} and Bell, {J. F.} and K. Benzerara and S. Bernard and O. Beyssac and Buckner, {D. K.} and M. Cable and F. Calef and G. Caravaca and Catling, {D. C.} and E. Clav{\'e} and E. Cloutis and Cohen, {B. A.} and A. Cousin and E. Dehouck and Fair{\'e}n, {A. G.} and Flannery, {D. T.} and T. Fornaro and O. Forni and T. Fouchet and E. Gibbons and Gomez, {F. Gomez} and S. Gupta and Hand, {K. P.} and Hurowitz, {J. A.} and H. Kalucha and Pedersen, {D. A.K.} and G. Lopes-Reyes and Maki, {J. N.} and S. Maurice and Nu{\~n}ez, {J. I.} and N. Randazzo and Rice, {J. W.} and C. Royer and Sephton, {M. A.} and S. Sharma and A. Steele and Tate, {C. D.} and K. Uckert and A. Udry and Wiens, {R. C.} and A. Williams",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology and The Author(s). Government sponsorship acknowledged. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1029/2024AV001241",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

journal = "AGU Advances",

issn = "2576-604X",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "4",

}

Bosak, T, Shuster, DL, Scheller, EL, Siljeström, S, Zawaski, MJ, Mandon, L, Simon, JI, Weiss, BP, Stack, KM, Mansbach, EN, Treiman, AH, Benison, KC, Brown, AJ, Czaja, AD, Farley, KA, Hausrath, EM, Hickman-Lewis, K, Herd, CDK, Johnson, JR, Mayhew, LE, Minitti, ME, Williford, KH, Wogsland, BV, Zorzano, MP, Allwood, AC, Amundsen, HEF, Bell, JF, Benzerara, K, Bernard, S, Beyssac, O, Buckner, DK, Cable, M, Calef, F, Caravaca, G, Catling, DC, Clavé, E, Cloutis, E, Cohen, BA, Cousin, A, Dehouck, E, Fairén, AG, Flannery, DT, Fornaro, T, Forni, O, Fouchet, T, Gibbons, E, Gomez, FG, Gupta, S, Hand, KP, Hurowitz, JA, Kalucha, H, Pedersen, DAK, Lopes-Reyes, G, Maki, JN, Maurice, S, Nuñez, JI, Randazzo, N, Rice, JW, Royer, C, Sephton, MA, Sharma, S, Steele, A, Tate, CD, Uckert, K, Udry, A, Wiens, RC & Williams, A 2024, 'Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars', AGU Advances, vol. 5, no. 4, e2024AV001241. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024AV001241

TY - JOUR

T1 - Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars

AU - Bosak, T.

AU - Shuster, D. L.

AU - Scheller, E. L.

AU - Siljeström, S.

AU - Zawaski, M. J.

AU - Mandon, L.

AU - Simon, J. I.

AU - Weiss, B. P.

AU - Stack, K. M.

AU - Mansbach, E. N.

AU - Treiman, A. H.

AU - Benison, K. C.

AU - Brown, A. J.

AU - Czaja, A. D.

AU - Farley, K. A.

AU - Hausrath, E. M.

AU - Hickman-Lewis, K.

AU - Herd, C. D.K.

AU - Johnson, J. R.

AU - Mayhew, L. E.

AU - Minitti, M. E.

AU - Williford, K. H.

AU - Wogsland, B. V.

AU - Zorzano, M. P.

AU - Allwood, A. C.

AU - Amundsen, H. E.F.

AU - Bell, J. F.

AU - Benzerara, K.

AU - Bernard, S.

AU - Beyssac, O.

AU - Buckner, D. K.

AU - Cable, M.

AU - Calef, F.

AU - Caravaca, G.

AU - Catling, D. C.

AU - Clavé, E.

AU - Cloutis, E.

AU - Cohen, B. A.

AU - Cousin, A.

AU - Dehouck, E.

AU - Fairén, A. G.

AU - Flannery, D. T.

AU - Fornaro, T.

AU - Forni, O.

AU - Fouchet, T.

AU - Gibbons, E.

AU - Gomez, F. Gomez

AU - Gupta, S.

AU - Hand, K. P.

AU - Hurowitz, J. A.

AU - Kalucha, H.

AU - Pedersen, D. A.K.

AU - Lopes-Reyes, G.

AU - Maki, J. N.

AU - Maurice, S.

AU - Nuñez, J. I.

AU - Randazzo, N.

AU - Rice, J. W.

AU - Royer, C.

AU - Sephton, M. A.

AU - Sharma, S.

AU - Steele, A.

AU - Tate, C. D.

AU - Uckert, K.

AU - Udry, A.

AU - Wiens, R. C.

AU - Williams, A.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology and The Author(s). Government sponsorship acknowledged. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - The Perseverance rover has collected seven oriented samples of sedimentary rocks, all likely older than the oldest signs of widespread life on Earth, at the exposed base of the western fan in Jezero crater, Mars. The samples include a sulfate- and clay-bearing mudstone and sandstone, a fluvial sandstone from a stratigraphically low position at the fan front, and a carbonate-bearing sandstone deposited above the sulfate-bearing strata. All samples contain aqueously precipitated materials and most or all were aqueously deposited. Although the rover instruments have not confidently detected organic matter in the rocks from the fan front, the much more sensitive terrestrial instruments will still be able to search for remnants of prebiotic chemistries and past life, and study Mars's past habitability in the samples returned to Earth. The hydrated, sulfate-bearing mudstone has the highest potential to preserve organic matter and biosignatures, whereas the carbonate-bearing sandstones can be used to constrain when and for how long Jezero crater contained liquid water. Returned sample science analyses of sulfate, carbonate, clay, phosphate and igneous minerals as well as trace metals and volatiles that are present in the samples acquired at the fan front would provide transformative insights into past habitable environments on Mars, the evolution of its magnetic field, atmosphere and climate and the past and present cycling of atmospheric and crustal water, sulfur and carbon.

AB - The Perseverance rover has collected seven oriented samples of sedimentary rocks, all likely older than the oldest signs of widespread life on Earth, at the exposed base of the western fan in Jezero crater, Mars. The samples include a sulfate- and clay-bearing mudstone and sandstone, a fluvial sandstone from a stratigraphically low position at the fan front, and a carbonate-bearing sandstone deposited above the sulfate-bearing strata. All samples contain aqueously precipitated materials and most or all were aqueously deposited. Although the rover instruments have not confidently detected organic matter in the rocks from the fan front, the much more sensitive terrestrial instruments will still be able to search for remnants of prebiotic chemistries and past life, and study Mars's past habitability in the samples returned to Earth. The hydrated, sulfate-bearing mudstone has the highest potential to preserve organic matter and biosignatures, whereas the carbonate-bearing sandstones can be used to constrain when and for how long Jezero crater contained liquid water. Returned sample science analyses of sulfate, carbonate, clay, phosphate and igneous minerals as well as trace metals and volatiles that are present in the samples acquired at the fan front would provide transformative insights into past habitable environments on Mars, the evolution of its magnetic field, atmosphere and climate and the past and present cycling of atmospheric and crustal water, sulfur and carbon.

U2 - 10.1029/2024AV001241

DO - 10.1029/2024AV001241

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85201299741

SN - 2576-604X

VL - 5

JO - AGU Advances

JF - AGU Advances

IS - 4

M1 - e2024AV001241

ER -

Astrobiological Potential of Rocks Acquired by the Perseverance Rover at a Sedimentary Fan Front in Jezero Crater, Mars

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