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Jarosite Stopwatch on MarsJarosite Stopwatch on Mars

Jarosite Stopwatch on Mars

The Meridiani landing site on Mars is made of eolian deposits altered by water (driven by a fluctuating water table). Mössbauer spectrometry indicates the presence of jarosite,(Na,K,H)Fe3(SO4)2(OH)6.

Burns Cliff, Meridiani Planum, Mars

~7m

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Jarosite StabilityJarosite Stability

Jarosite Stopwatch on Mars

Jarosite forms early in basalt weathering and at low pH, relatively oxidizing conditions.

Diagrams after Elwood Madden et al. (2004)

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The Jarosite StopwatchThe Jarosite Stopwatch

Jarosite Stopwatch on MarsElwood Madden et al. (2009)