Diverse organic-mineral associations in Jezero crater, Mars

Sunanda Sharma (), Ryan D. Roppel, Ashley E. Murphy, Luther W. Beegle, Rohit Bhartia, Andrew Steele, Joseph Razzell Hollis, Sandra Siljeström, Francis M. McCubbin, Sanford A. Asher, William J. Abbey, Abigail C. Allwood, Eve L. Berger, Benjamin L. Bleefeld, Aaron S. Burton, Sergei V. Bykov, Emily L. Cardarelli, Pamela G. Conrad, Andrea Corpolongo, Andrew D. Czaja, Lauren P. DeFlores, Kenneth Edgett, Kenneth A. Farley, Teresa Fornaro, Allison C. Fox, Marc D. Fries, David Harker, Keyron Hickman-Lewis, Joshua Huggett, Samara Imbeah, Ryan S. Jakubek, Linda C. Kah, Carina Lee, Yang Liu, Angela Magee, Michelle Minitti, Kelsey R. Moore, Alyssa Pascuzzo, Carolina Rodriguez Sanchez-Vahamonde, Eva L. Scheller, Svetlana Shkolyar, Kathryn M. Stack, Kim Steadman, Michael Tuite, Kyle Uckert, Alyssa Werynski, Roger C. Wiens, Amy J. Williams, Katherine Winchell, Megan R. Kennedy and Anastasia Yanchilina
Additional contact information
Sunanda Sharma: California Institute of Technology
Ryan D. Roppel: University of Pittsburgh
Ashley E. Murphy: Planetary Science Institute
Luther W. Beegle: Melanie Sauer and Associates, LLC
Rohit Bhartia: Photon Systems Incorporated
Andrew Steele: Carnegie Institution for Science
Joseph Razzell Hollis: The Natural History Museum
Sandra Siljeström: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Francis M. McCubbin: NASA Johnson Space Center
Sanford A. Asher: University of Pittsburgh
William J. Abbey: California Institute of Technology
Abigail C. Allwood: California Institute of Technology
Eve L. Berger: NASA Johnson Space Center
Benjamin L. Bleefeld: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Aaron S. Burton: NASA Johnson Space Center
Sergei V. Bykov: University of Pittsburgh
Emily L. Cardarelli: California Institute of Technology
Pamela G. Conrad: Carnegie Institution for Science
Andrea Corpolongo: University of Cincinnati
Andrew D. Czaja: University of Cincinnati
Lauren P. DeFlores: California Institute of Technology
Kenneth Edgett: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Kenneth A. Farley: California Institute of Technology
Teresa Fornaro: INAF
Allison C. Fox: NASA Johnson Space Center
Marc D. Fries: NASA Johnson Space Center
David Harker: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Keyron Hickman-Lewis: The Natural History Museum
Joshua Huggett: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Samara Imbeah: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Ryan S. Jakubek: NASA Johnson Space Center
Linda C. Kah: University of Tennessee
Carina Lee: NASA Johnson Space Center
Yang Liu: California Institute of Technology
Angela Magee: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Michelle Minitti: Framework
Kelsey R. Moore: California Institute of Technology
Alyssa Pascuzzo: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Carolina Rodriguez Sanchez-Vahamonde: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Eva L. Scheller: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Svetlana Shkolyar: University of Maryland
Kathryn M. Stack: California Institute of Technology
Kim Steadman: California Institute of Technology
Michael Tuite: California Institute of Technology
Kyle Uckert: California Institute of Technology
Alyssa Werynski: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Roger C. Wiens: Purdue University
Amy J. Williams: University of Florida
Katherine Winchell: Arizona State University
Megan R. Kennedy: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
Anastasia Yanchilina: Impossible Sensing, LLC

Nature, 2023, vol. 619, issue 7971, 724-732

Abstract: Abstract The presence and distribution of preserved organic matter on the surface of Mars can provide key information about the Martian carbon cycle and the potential of the planet to host life throughout its history. Several types of organic molecules have been previously detected in Martian meteorites1 and at Gale crater, Mars2–4. Evaluating the diversity and detectability of organic matter elsewhere on Mars is important for understanding the extent and diversity of Martian surface processes and the potential availability of carbon sources1,5,6. Here we report the detection of Raman and fluorescence spectra consistent with several species of aromatic organic molecules in the Máaz and Séítah formations within the Crater Floor sequences of Jezero crater, Mars. We report specific fluorescence-mineral associations consistent with many classes of organic molecules occurring in different spatial patterns within these compositionally distinct formations, potentially indicating different fates of carbon across environments. Our findings suggest there may be a diversity of aromatic molecules prevalent on the Martian surface, and these materials persist despite exposure to surface conditions. These potential organic molecules are largely found within minerals linked to aqueous processes, indicating that these processes may have had a key role in organic synthesis, transport or preservation.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06143-z

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