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Jarosite formation in Permian-Triassic strata at Xiakou (South China): Implications for jarosite precipitation from H2S upwelling on Mars

  • Hanlie Hong EMAIL logo , Chen Liu , Thomas J. Algeo and Elizabeth B. Rampe
Published/Copyright: September 9, 2024
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Abstract

The source of sulfuric acid and associated aqueous alteration of ancient martian sedimentary rocks remain under debate in the context of divergent models of jarosite formation. Here, we report the formation of sulfates, including jarosite in K-bentonites within shallow-water facies of the Permian-Triassic (P-T) transition at Xiakou in South China. In these strata, jarosite is dispersed in the clay matrix or forms aggregates in pore spaces, has a euhedral morphology, and coexists with variably 34S-depleted paragenetic gypsum and bassanite (δ34S = –37.23‰ to +3.20‰ VCDT). Subaqueous alteration of volcanic tuffs concurrently with oxidation of upwelled, biogenically sourced H2S is the process of jarosite formation in the Xiakou K-bentonites. This mechanism of jarosite precipitation and stability over geological time challenges the long-held view of acidic, water-limited conditions leading to iron(III) sulfate precipitation and would be consistent with possible microbial or nanobial life on early Mars.

Acknowledgments and Funding

We thank Y.J.L., Q.F., K.Y., and J.Z. for their assistance in HRTEM and SEM analyses, and especially thank Lindsay McHenry, the handling editor, and Sally Potter-McIntyre for their insightful reviews, valuable comments, and suggestions. Funding: This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China [42172045, 41972040]. Author contributions: H.L.H. conceived, designed, and performed the research and wrote the original draft. C.L. performed the XRD, SEM, and HRTEM analyses. T.J.A. and E.B.R. wrote some paragraphs and edited the paper. Conflict of Interest: Conflict of interest statement. None declared. Data and materials availability: All raw data and results, including the images in Gatan DM ImageDocument format, are available upon request.

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Received: 2023-05-15
Accepted: 2023-12-13
Published Online: 2024-09-09
Published in Print: 2024-09-25

© 2024 by Mineralogical Society of America

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