Magmatism is one of the few geologic processes to provide major changes and energy influx to the martian surface and subsurface past the noachian. Eruption and degassing of mafic magmas contribute…

This $427,811.33 grant awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) will support research into the effects of mafic magma intrusion into sulfur-rich Martian soils and sediments. The research aims to investigate an Earth analog site in the San Rafael Swell on the Colorado Plateau where mafic dikes have intruded gypsum-bearing sediments. The findings may be relevant to understanding the geological and potential habitability conditions at the proposed landing sites for the NASA Mars 2020 and ESA ExoMars missions. This grant does not have a set-aside designation, reflecting USRA's status as a large nonprofit research organization that frequently partners with federal agencies to advance space science and exploration through contracts and grants. USRA has extensive experience supporting NASA's science programs, as well as projects for other government agencies.

Magmatism is one of the few geologic processes to provide major changes and energy influx to the martian surface and subsurface past the noachian. Eruption and degassing of mafic magmas contribute to the surface volatile species, as well as nutrients and energy that are needed for biological processes. Among the volatile species, sulfur is especially important because of its several redox states, which can be utilized as an energy source by chemolithotrophic microorganisms. On earth, few mafic magmas intrude sulfur-rich sedimentary rocks. On mars, however, soils have been found to contain abundant s-species and there is ample evidence for ancient magmatism. Thus, intrusion of magmas into sulfur-rich soils and rocks is to be expected on mars. This may be particularly relevant to the proposed landing sites for the NASA mars 2020 and for the ESA exomars missions at mawrth vallis and/or jezero crater that have a potential volcanic capping unit directly in contact with sulfate-sediments. In this proposal, we will investigate an earth analog, in the SAN rafael swell on the colorado plateau, for such a scenario of mafic magma intruding gypsum-bearing sediments. We have observed numerous dikes, which intruded sulfur rich sediments and are well exposed throughout our field-site. Therefore, we propose to do a detailed in-situ investigation of the igneous intrusion and metamorphosed sediments using instruments that mimic those on active and future missions.