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?