Organic Carbon and Ca-Rich Carbonate Detections in Soils of the Northern Plains, Mars: Evaluation of Unreported Data From the Mars Phoenix Scout's Thermal Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA)

Abstract

The Thermal Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) analysis of surface and icy subsurface Phoenix landing site soils consisted of low (300–700°C) and high (>700°C) temperature CO₂ evolutions that were attributed to organic carbon (83–1,484 μgC/g) and Ca-rich carbonate (1.1–2.6 wt.%). Total carbon abundances ranged from 1,143 to 4,905 µgC/g, which is the highest soil carbon concentration so far detected on Mars. Low temperature CO₂ was attributed to oxidized organic C (e.g., oxalates, acetates), while hydrocarbon combustion was indicated in two soils by the detection of coevolved CO₂ and O₂ (perchlorate). Combustion reactions may have prevented the detection of hydrocarbon masses in the Phoenix landing site soils. Organic C was likely derived from meteoritic and igneous/hydrothermal sources, but microbiological sources cannot be excluded. CO₂ evolved at high temperatures was consistent with Ca-rich carbonate along with possible minor contributions from macromolecular organic carbon and mineral/glass vesicle CO₂. Carbon detected in the Phoenix landing site soil and other landing site soils and sands (e.g., Gale/Jezero craters) would be consistent with global organic C and carbonate in soils and sand across Mars. However, oxidizing water thin films derived from the near-surface ice in the Phoenix soils favor Ca-carbonate over Fe-carbonate, which is likely more stable in the ice-free regions of Mars (e.g., Gale/Jezero craters). The global carbon budget on Mars inferred from these results emphasizes that Mars Sample Return should yield carbon bearing soil/rock that would allow the identification of the origin of carbon and any possible connections to ancient martian microbiology.