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Clays form on Earth by near-surface weathering, precipitation in water bodies within basins, hydrothermal alteration (volcanic- or impact-induced), diagenesis, metamorphism, and magmatic precipitation. Diverse clay minerals have been detected from orbital investigation of terrains on Mars and are globally distributed, indicating geographically widespread aqueous alteration. Clay assemblages within deep stratigraphic units in the Martian crust include Fe/Mg smectites, chlorites and higher temperature hydrated silicates. Sedimentary clay mineral assemblages include Fe/Mg smectites, kaolinite, and sulfate, carbonate, and chloride salts. Stratigraphic sequences with multiple clay-bearing units have an upper unit with Al-clays and a lower unit with Fe/Mg-clays. The typical restriction of clay minerals to the oldest, Noachian terrains indicates a distinctive set of processes involving water-rock interaction that was prevalent early in Mars history and may have profoundly influenced the evolution of Martian geochemical systems. Current analyses of orbital data have led to the proposition of multiple clay-formation mechanisms, varying in space and time in their relative importance. These include near-surface weathering, formation in ice-dominated near-surface groundwaters, and formation by subsurface hydrothermal fluids. Near-surface, open system formation of clays would lead to fractionation of Mars' crustal reservoir into an altered crustal reservoir and a sedimentary reservoir, potentially involving changes in the composition of Mars' atmosphere. In contrast, formation of clays in the subsurface by either aqueous alteration or magmatic cooling would result in comparatively little geochemical fractionation or interaction of Mars' atmospheric, crustal, and magmatic reservoirs, with the exception of long-term sequestration of water. Formation of clays within ice would have geochemical consequences intermediate between these endmembers. We outline the future analyses of orbital data, in situ measurements acquired within clay-bearing terrains, and analyses of Mars samples that are needed to more fully elucidate the mechanisms of martian clay formation and to determine the consequences for the geochemical evolution of the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clay minerals detected spectroscopically in the Mawrth Vallis region of Mars correspond to a complex, layered, thick (>600 m) stratigraphic section of ancient bedrock. Because the lighttoned, clay-bearing rocks are lithologically diverse over a broad area (>80,000 km2), have significant internal layering and complexity, and contain buried impact craters within the section (demonstrating that they were deposited over a geologically significant duration of time), we interpret the host rocks as sedimentary or possibly pyroclastic. Crater counts date the claybearing rocks to early-middle Noachian time (estimated as 3.8-4.1 Ga). Geomorphic observations suggest that the rocks were lithified early and deeply eroded during the late Noachian-early Hesperian. The combination of a probable ancient sedimentary context of the clays and a moderate pH formation environment implied by the occurrence of smectites clearly places these rocks among the most important targets for future astrobiological exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the mineralogy of basalt weathering rinds and fresh basaltic rocks using visible/near-infrared (VNIR) (λ =0.4–2.5 μm) and thermal emission (λ =6–30 μm) spectroscopy to 1) constrain the effects of chemical weathering on rock spectra, and 2) further understand the context of infrared spectra of Mars, which may contain evidence for weathered rocks and particulates derived from them. VNIR spectra of weathered rock surfaces are generally redder and brighter than fresh surfaces. Thermal infrared spectra of weathered basalts show evidence for aluminous opal and clay minerals (or clay precursor mineraloids) in natural surfaces. Supporting VNIR observations generally do not show the same evidence for neoformed clays or silica because of their textural occurrence as thin coatings and microfracture-fill, and possibly due to poor crystallinity of the aluminosilicate weathering products in this context. Spectral trends observed at Mars, such as the detection of low to moderate (10–25%) abundances of silica and clay that are observed in the thermal infrared but not in the VNIR, are therefore consistent with trends observed for natural rock surfaces in the laboratory. The combined use of thermal infrared and VNIR suggest that vast areas of martian dark regions contain sandy–rocky basaltic materials with weathering rinds and thin coatings that could have formed in conditions of relatively low water/rock ratios. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]