HiRISE investigates signatures of clay minerals on Mars' Margaritifer Chaos

Mars continues to captivate scientists with its enigmatic landscapes and potential for harbouring clues about the existence of life beyond our home planet. Multispectral data from CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars), a spectrometer aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, has revealed strong evidence of iron-magnesium phyllosilicate (clay) near the Margaritifer Chaos region of Mars.

The discovery is significant as it opens up possibilities for understanding the conditions under which these minerals formed. Could their presence indicate the past existence of water on Mars?

Phyllosilicates, commonly known as sheet silicates, encompass a crucial group of minerals that includes micas, chlorite, serpentine, talc, and clay minerals. The minerals preserve a unique record of liquid water environments possibly suitable for life in the early solar system, according to NASA.

HiPOD: Possible Phyllosilicate near Margaritifer ChaosThe existence of clay minerals is especially interesting on Mars since we want to know under what conditions these minerals formed. Could it have been the presence of water?https://t.co/E1ZABUE09HNASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona pic.twitter.com/XMQPmNQpx9

— HiRISE: Beautiful Mars (NASA) (@HiRISE) July 9, 2023

The above image obtained by HiRISE (High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) is especially interesting because there are no prior observations of this particular area.

By combining data from CRISM and HiRISE's exceptional resolution, researchers are optimistic that they will determine if these particular phyllosilicates are actually present in this area. If confirmed, it would offer further evidence of the planet's watery past and could potentially identify specific environments where liquid water once existed.

Water is a fundamental ingredient for life as we know it here on Earth, and understanding its history on Mars is crucial in the search for past or present extraterrestrial life forms.

For the unversed, CRISM is one of the six science instruments on MRO and its primary objective is to find the spectral fingerprints of aqueous and hydrothermal deposits and map the geology, composition and stratigraphy of surface features.