Contradictory Oxidation in Martian Rocks
The history of Mars’ volcanic activity is recorded within its rocks, particularly meteorites that traveled from Mars to Earth. However, scientists faced a long-standing contradiction: while the meteorites appeared highly oxidized, models of internal Martian volcanic forces suggested they should have formed in a reducing environment.
The Role of Deep-Mantle Garnet
Planetary scientists Hideharu Kuwahara and Ryoichi Nakada from Ehime University have provided an answer to this mystery. In a new paper published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, they demonstrated how a deep-mantle gemstone—garnet—influenced the chemical evolution and oxidation states of the magma.
High-pressure experiments revealed that garnet crystallization in the deep Martian mantle shifts the iron oxidation state, effectively increasing oxygen levels in the ascending magma despite a reducing deep source.
Revising Models of Martian Volcanism
This discovery refines geochemical models of the internal structure and ancient volcanic history of Mars. By revealing how garnet affected magma chemistry, the study provides a new framework for understanding planetary interior dynamics and guides future analyses of Martian samples.
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