In-situ nitrogen chemical speciation analysis in Martian analog sample for elucidation of the Martian surface environment

Abstract

Nitrogen is an essential element for life and can be an important geochemical tracer of environmental evolution on Mars. In this study, we focus on secondary minerals in basaltic lava breccia from Bockjford Volcanic Complex (BVC), Svalbard, as “Mars analog” to understand the behavior of nitrogen on Mars. Textural observation, major elements analysis, and in-situ nitrogen X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (µ-XAFS) analyses were performed on ALH 84001-like carbonate globules and coexisting clay minerals in the BVC sample. The results show that the carbonate globules have very low nitrogen concentrations (less than few ppm), while the clay minerals retain ammonia. Based on these data, the composition of the co-existing fluid will be discussed.