International Journal of Astrobiology

Table of Contents - July 2012 - Volume 11, Issue 03  

Research Article

Sampling methane in hydrothermal minerals on Earth and Mars

Sean McMahona1 c1, John Parnella1 and Nigel J. F. Blameya2

a1 School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK

a2 Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM 87801, USA

Abstract

The source of Martian atmospheric methane is unknown. On Earth, hydrothermal mineral deposits contain ancient methane together with a host of chemical and geological lines of evidence for the mechanism of gas production. Such deposits are therefore potentially attractive sampling sites on Mars. In order to evaluate this potential, hydrothermal calcite veins were sampled across the Caithness region of Scotland and analysed for methane by an incremental-crushing mass spectrometry technique that may be adaptable to Mars rovers. Methane was detected in all samples. Variations in the quantity of methane released were found to relate directly to the geological history of the localities. Calcite particle size was found to affect measurements in a systematic and informative way. Oxidative weathering had no discernable effect on methane recoverability. These results suggest that the technique is sensitive and informative enough to deserve consideration for missions to Mars.

(Received November 01 2011)

(Accepted January 16 2012)

(Online publication February 16 2012)

Key words

Correspondence:

c1 e-mail: sean.mcmahon@abdn.ac.uk