火星盐类研究进展

Progresses of studies on Mars salts

因携带水相关地质过程及环境的丰富信息,进而与生命起源密切相关,行星盐类研究受到大量科研工作者的关注。好奇号登陆之后,火星盐类研究取得了一些新进展。例如,在着陆区泥岩中发现了黄钾铁矾;在泥岩及泥岩砂岩的不整合接触面发现了石膏脉;在风沉积及原位沉积岩中发现了硝酸盐。此外,通过遥感手段,还发现火星新出现的斜坡沟渠可能是由含高氯酸盐高浓卤水冲击形成的。这些新进展再次表明了盐类对于火星科学的重要性。结合已有研究,凝练了火星盐类研究存在的重要科学问题,展望了中国未来火星探测研究。

Salts carry rich information about water related geological processes and aqueous environments, and further are closely related to the origin of life, thus salts on other planets have attracted focus of numerous studies, and the study of Mars salts deserves to be one of the major science goals for future China Mars exploration. For example, jarosite has been detected from mudstone at the landing region, gypsum vein in mudstone and in the unconformable surface have confirmed by curiosity rover, and nitrates have been indicated from windblown deposits and from sedimentary rocks. In addition, perchlorate has been identified by CRISM close to the recurring slope lineae, indicating that the flow of liquid perchlorate brine may account for this recently formed surface feature. All these new findings address again the importance of salts for Mars science. Finally, we propose several key science questions about Mars salts based on current knowledge, and give some prospects for future China Mars exploration.