Reimagining the Formation of Burns on Mars
A new study proposes a common origin story for Mars's Burns formation and Grasberg formation, both of which are chemically similar. The authors suggest that the precursor material for both formations was deposited onto Meridiani Planum as particles of dust or falling ash from nearby volcanic eruptions. The materials solidified, were weathered to the size of sand grains, and were blown by the wind to their current location. Once settled, the sand dunes experienced periodic flows of groundwater, which enriched the upper layers in magnesium and sulfate. The findings could shift how scientists think about the environmental conditions on early Mars and transform interpretations of the origin of sulfate-rich deposits found elsewhere on the planet.