The Polar Sulfur Cycle in the Werenskioldbreen, Spitsbergen: Possible Implications for Understanding the Deposition of Sulfate Minerals in the North Polar Region of Mars
In this study we investigated the polar cycling of sulfur (S) associated with the Werenskioldbreen glacier in Spitsbergen (Svalbard). Sulfide-derived S comprised 0.02-0.42 wt% of the fine-grained fraction of proglacial sediments. These sediments originated from glacial erosion of Precambrian sulfide...
Published in: | Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta |
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ftmissouriunivst:oai:scholarsmine.mst.edu:geosci_geo_peteng_facwork-1468 2023-06-11T04:09:55+02:00 The Polar Sulfur Cycle in the Werenskioldbreen, Spitsbergen: Possible Implications for Understanding the Deposition of Sulfate Minerals in the North Polar Region of Mars Szynkiewicz, Anna A. Modelska, Magdalena Buczynski, Sebastian Borrok, David M. Merrison, Jonathan Peter 2013-04-01T07:00:00Z https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/geosci_geo_peteng_facwork/468 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.12.041 unknown Scholars' Mine https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/geosci_geo_peteng_facwork/468 doi:10.1016/j.gca.2012.12.041 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.12.041 © 2013 Elsevier, All rights reserved. Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works fine grained sediment glacial erosion gypsum Mars melting oxidation polar region Precambrian proglacial environment sulfur cycle Arctic Spitsbergen Svalbard Svalbard and Jan Mayen Geology text 2013 ftmissouriunivst https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.12.041 2023-05-06T22:31:14Z In this study we investigated the polar cycling of sulfur (S) associated with the Werenskioldbreen glacier in Spitsbergen (Svalbard). Sulfide-derived S comprised 0.02-0.42 wt% of the fine-grained fraction of proglacial sediments. These sediments originated from glacial erosion of Precambrian sulfide-rich quartz and carbonate veins. In summer 2008, the δ34S of dissolved SO4 in glacier melt waters (+9‰ to +17‰) was consistent with SO4 generation from oxidation of primary sulfide minerals in the bedrock (+9‰ to +16‰). The calculated monthly SO4 load was ~6881 kg/month/km2 in the main glacier stream. Subsequent evaporation and freezing of glacial waters lead to precipitation, accumulation, and temporary storage of sulfate salt efflorescences in the proglacial zone. These salts are presumably ephemeral, as they dissolve during annual snow/glacial melt events.Hydrated sulfates such as gypsum are also important constituents of the low-elevation areas around the polar ice cap of Planum Boreum on Mars. The origin of this gypsum on Mars might be better understood by using the investigated polar S cycle in Spitsbergen as a foundation. Assuming a trace sulfide content in the basaltic bedrock on Mars, the weathering of sulfides within the fine, porous texture of the ancient aeolian strata (basal unit) underlying Planum Boreum could have created elevated SO4 fluxes (and gypsum precipitation) during episodic thawing/melting events in the past. Limited water activity and prevailing dry conditions on the surface of Mars are the likely factors that accounted for the larger accumulation and preservation of polar gypsum on the surface and its broad aeolian distribution around Planum Boreum. This suggestion is also supported by an experiment showing that gypsum sand can be transported, under dry conditions, over great distances (~2000 km) without a significant loss of mass. Text Arctic glacier Ice cap Jan Mayen Svalbard Spitsbergen Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T): Scholars' Mine Arctic Svalbard Jan Mayen Svalbard ENVELOPE(20.000,20.000,78.000,78.000) Werenskioldbreen ENVELOPE(15.336,15.336,77.077,77.077) Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 106 326 343 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T): Scholars' Mine |
op_collection_id |
ftmissouriunivst |
language |
unknown |
topic |
fine grained sediment glacial erosion gypsum Mars melting oxidation polar region Precambrian proglacial environment sulfur cycle Arctic Spitsbergen Svalbard Svalbard and Jan Mayen Geology |
spellingShingle |
fine grained sediment glacial erosion gypsum Mars melting oxidation polar region Precambrian proglacial environment sulfur cycle Arctic Spitsbergen Svalbard Svalbard and Jan Mayen Geology Szynkiewicz, Anna A. Modelska, Magdalena Buczynski, Sebastian Borrok, David M. Merrison, Jonathan Peter The Polar Sulfur Cycle in the Werenskioldbreen, Spitsbergen: Possible Implications for Understanding the Deposition of Sulfate Minerals in the North Polar Region of Mars |
topic_facet |
fine grained sediment glacial erosion gypsum Mars melting oxidation polar region Precambrian proglacial environment sulfur cycle Arctic Spitsbergen Svalbard Svalbard and Jan Mayen Geology |
description |
In this study we investigated the polar cycling of sulfur (S) associated with the Werenskioldbreen glacier in Spitsbergen (Svalbard). Sulfide-derived S comprised 0.02-0.42 wt% of the fine-grained fraction of proglacial sediments. These sediments originated from glacial erosion of Precambrian sulfide-rich quartz and carbonate veins. In summer 2008, the δ34S of dissolved SO4 in glacier melt waters (+9‰ to +17‰) was consistent with SO4 generation from oxidation of primary sulfide minerals in the bedrock (+9‰ to +16‰). The calculated monthly SO4 load was ~6881 kg/month/km2 in the main glacier stream. Subsequent evaporation and freezing of glacial waters lead to precipitation, accumulation, and temporary storage of sulfate salt efflorescences in the proglacial zone. These salts are presumably ephemeral, as they dissolve during annual snow/glacial melt events.Hydrated sulfates such as gypsum are also important constituents of the low-elevation areas around the polar ice cap of Planum Boreum on Mars. The origin of this gypsum on Mars might be better understood by using the investigated polar S cycle in Spitsbergen as a foundation. Assuming a trace sulfide content in the basaltic bedrock on Mars, the weathering of sulfides within the fine, porous texture of the ancient aeolian strata (basal unit) underlying Planum Boreum could have created elevated SO4 fluxes (and gypsum precipitation) during episodic thawing/melting events in the past. Limited water activity and prevailing dry conditions on the surface of Mars are the likely factors that accounted for the larger accumulation and preservation of polar gypsum on the surface and its broad aeolian distribution around Planum Boreum. This suggestion is also supported by an experiment showing that gypsum sand can be transported, under dry conditions, over great distances (~2000 km) without a significant loss of mass. |
format |
Text |
author |
Szynkiewicz, Anna A. Modelska, Magdalena Buczynski, Sebastian Borrok, David M. Merrison, Jonathan Peter |
author_facet |
Szynkiewicz, Anna A. Modelska, Magdalena Buczynski, Sebastian Borrok, David M. Merrison, Jonathan Peter |
author_sort |
Szynkiewicz, Anna A. |
title |
The Polar Sulfur Cycle in the Werenskioldbreen, Spitsbergen: Possible Implications for Understanding the Deposition of Sulfate Minerals in the North Polar Region of Mars |
title_short |
The Polar Sulfur Cycle in the Werenskioldbreen, Spitsbergen: Possible Implications for Understanding the Deposition of Sulfate Minerals in the North Polar Region of Mars |
title_full |
The Polar Sulfur Cycle in the Werenskioldbreen, Spitsbergen: Possible Implications for Understanding the Deposition of Sulfate Minerals in the North Polar Region of Mars |
title_fullStr |
The Polar Sulfur Cycle in the Werenskioldbreen, Spitsbergen: Possible Implications for Understanding the Deposition of Sulfate Minerals in the North Polar Region of Mars |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Polar Sulfur Cycle in the Werenskioldbreen, Spitsbergen: Possible Implications for Understanding the Deposition of Sulfate Minerals in the North Polar Region of Mars |
title_sort |
polar sulfur cycle in the werenskioldbreen, spitsbergen: possible implications for understanding the deposition of sulfate minerals in the north polar region of mars |
publisher |
Scholars' Mine |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/geosci_geo_peteng_facwork/468 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.12.041 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(20.000,20.000,78.000,78.000) ENVELOPE(15.336,15.336,77.077,77.077) |
geographic |
Arctic Svalbard Jan Mayen Svalbard Werenskioldbreen |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Svalbard Jan Mayen Svalbard Werenskioldbreen |
genre |
Arctic glacier Ice cap Jan Mayen Svalbard Spitsbergen |
genre_facet |
Arctic glacier Ice cap Jan Mayen Svalbard Spitsbergen |
op_source |
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works |
op_relation |
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/geosci_geo_peteng_facwork/468 doi:10.1016/j.gca.2012.12.041 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.12.041 |
op_rights |
© 2013 Elsevier, All rights reserved. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.12.041 |
container_title |
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta |
container_volume |
106 |
container_start_page |
326 |
op_container_end_page |
343 |
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1768383933600235520 |