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Detection of ferrihydrite in Martian red dust records ancient cold and wet conditions on Mars

Author

Listed:
  • Adomas Valantinas

    (University of Bern
    Brown University)

  • John F. Mustard

    (Brown University)

  • Vincent Chevrier

    (University of Arkansas)

  • Nicolas Mangold

    (Le Mans Univ)

  • Janice L. Bishop

    (SETI Institute)

  • Antoine Pommerol

    (University of Bern)

  • Pierre Beck

    (IPAG)

  • Olivier Poch

    (IPAG)

  • Daniel M. Applin

    (University of Winnipeg)

  • Edward A. Cloutis

    (University of Winnipeg)

  • Takahiro Hiroi

    (Brown University)

  • Kevin Robertson

    (Brown University)

  • Sebastian Pérez-López

    (Brown University)

  • Rafael Ottersberg

    (University of Bern)

  • Geronimo L. Villanueva

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Aurélien Stcherbinine

    (CNRS)

  • Manish R. Patel

    (Open University)

  • Nicolas Thomas

    (University of Bern)

Abstract

Iron oxide-hydroxide minerals in Martian dust provide crucial insights into Mars’ past climate and habitability. Previous studies attributed Mars’ red color to anhydrous hematite formed through recent weathering. Here, we show that poorly crystalline ferrihydrite (Fe5O8H · nH2O) is the dominant iron oxide-bearing phase in Martian dust, based on combined analyses of orbital, in-situ, and laboratory visible near-infrared spectra. Spectroscopic analyses indicate that a hyperfine mixture of ferrihydrite, basalt and sulfate best matches Martian dust observations. Through laboratory experiments and kinetic calculations, we demonstrate that ferrihydrite remains stable under present-day Martian conditions, preserving its poorly crystalline structure. The persistence of ferrihydrite suggests it formed during a cold, wet period on early Mars under oxidative conditions, followed by a transition to the current hyper-arid environment. This finding challenges previous models of continuous dry oxidation and indicates that ancient Mars experienced aqueous alteration before transitioning to its current desert state.

Suggested Citation

  • Adomas Valantinas & John F. Mustard & Vincent Chevrier & Nicolas Mangold & Janice L. Bishop & Antoine Pommerol & Pierre Beck & Olivier Poch & Daniel M. Applin & Edward A. Cloutis & Takahiro Hiroi & Ke, 2025. "Detection of ferrihydrite in Martian red dust records ancient cold and wet conditions on Mars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56970-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56970-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Albert S. Yen & Ralf Gellert & Christian Schröder & Richard V. Morris & James F. Bell & Amy T. Knudson & Benton C. Clark & Douglas W. Ming & Joy A. Crisp & Raymond E. Arvidson & Diana Blaney & Johanne, 2005. "An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils," Nature, Nature, vol. 436(7047), pages 49-54, July.
    2. Walter Goetz & Preben Bertelsen & Charlotte S. Binau & Haraldur P. Gunnlaugsson & Stubbe F. Hviid & Kjartan M. Kinch & Daniel E. Madsen & Morten B. Madsen & Malte Olsen & Ralf Gellert & Göstar Klingel, 2005. "Indication of drier periods on Mars from the chemistry and mineralogy of atmospheric dust," Nature, Nature, vol. 436(7047), pages 62-65, July.
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