Tracing a Wet Past and Diverse Provenances in Gale Crater, Mars, With Lithium Content Using ChemCam on the Curiosity Rover.
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| Title: | Tracing a Wet Past and Diverse Provenances in Gale Crater, Mars, With Lithium Content Using ChemCam on the Curiosity Rover. |
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| Authors: | Nikolajsen, K. W.1 (AUTHOR) katrine.nikolajsen@sund.ku.dk, Frydenvang, J.1 (AUTHOR), Dehouck, E.2 (AUTHOR), Wiens, R. C.3 (AUTHOR), Gasda, P. J.4 (AUTHOR), Le Deit, L.5 (AUTHOR), Caravaca, G.6 (AUTHOR), Bedford, C. C.3 (AUTHOR), Ollila, A.4 (AUTHOR), Cousin, A.7 (AUTHOR), Maurice, S.7 (AUTHOR), Gasnault, O.7 (AUTHOR), Lanza, N. L.4 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets. Feb2026, Vol. 131 Issue 2, p1-24. 24p. |
| Subject Terms: | Gale Crater (Mars), Lithium ions, Martian geology, Mars rovers, Hydrothermal alteration, Phyllosilicates, Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy |
| Company/Entity: | Curiosity (Spacecraft) |
| Abstract: | The incompatible behavior of Lithium during magmatic differentiation and high mobility during aqueous alteration make it a valuable tracer of crustal processes on Mars. Its preferential incorporation into secondary phyllosilicates further links Li to clay‐forming environments, which are critical for evaluating past aqueous activity and habitability. The ChemCam instrument aboard the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover enables remote Li detection through laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and has provided the first in situ measurements of Li in Martian rocks. Here, we present the first stratigraphically contextualized analysis of Li abundance and variability in Gale crater based on almost 14,000 ChemCam observations across seven major bedrock classes. Lithium abundances are elevated relative to Martian meteorites, particularly shergottites, and broadly track phyllosilicate distribution, increasing in clay‐rich units and decreasing where phyllosilicates are absent. However, this relationship breaks down in the Clay‐sulfate Transition region, where Li remains elevated despite low phyllosilicate content. The persistence of high Li in this region, as well as in basaltic rocks, points to the presence of a Li‐enriched igneous provenance near Gale crater and emphasizes that the Martian crust is more compositionally diverse than that inferred from Martian meteorites alone. Plain Language Summary: Lithium is a chemical element that behaves in unique ways during volcanic activity, water‐driven alteration, and salt formation. Because of this, it can be used as a tracer to better understand the origin of rocks and the role of water in Mars's past. This study discusses Li concentrations in rocks measured by the ChemCam instrument on the Curiosity rover, which is currently exploring the Gale crater on Mars. We find that most sedimentary rocks in the Gale crater contain more Li than Martian meteorites, which are commonly used as a reference for Martian rocks. In many cases, high Li concentrations are found in rocks containing clay minerals—materials that form in the presence of water and are important for assessing past habitability. However, some Li‐rich rocks contain little or no clay, suggesting that the Li in these cases might have come from volcanic sources already enriched in Li. These findings help refine our understanding of the chemical composition of the Martian crust and provide further evidence that rocks on the surface of Mars may be more geochemically diverse than previously thought. Key Points: The variation in Li abundance, measured by ChemCam, is analyzed across seven bedrock classes in Gale craterLi concentration varies across bedrock classes and reflects variations in source rock composition and secondary mineral assemblageGale crater bedrock is overall enriched in Li compared to Martian meteorites [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | GreenFILE |
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