Geological Society of America

44 Advancing Mineral Science and Exploring Planetary Surfaces: In Honor of MSA Dana Medalist, Elizabeth B. Rampe, Part II

This session honors MSA Dana Medalist Elizabeth B. Rampe, celebrating her contributions to Martian mineralogy and planetary science. We invite studies on in-situ and orbital planetary observations, lab/field data integration, and analog materials for extraterrestrial exploration.Sarah Simpson

Sunday, 19 October 2025
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, 214C

Amazonian-aged Primary Evaporite Discovered by the Zhurong Rover in the Southern Utopia Planitia, Mars

Paper number: 44-7
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 3:10 PM – 3:25 PM

Authors

Jiacheng Liu Presenting Author
The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Wenyuan Gao
Northeastern University, Shenyang
Zhongchen Wu
Shandong University, Weihai
Changqing Liu
Shandong University, Weihai
Honglei Lin
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Beijing
Yu Sun
Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, Beijing
Guochun Zhao
The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Joseph Michalski
The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Jim Head
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Xing Wu
National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
Yang Liu
National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
Mei-Fu Zhou
Institute of Geochemistry, Guiyang
Anthony Williams-Jones
McGill University, Montreal
Xiao Wang
The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Zongcheng Ling
Shandong University, Weihai

Abstract

The Zhurong rover has identified a surface layer consisting of platy rocks enriched in hydrous minerals on a geologically young surface in southern Utopia Planitia, indicating unexpected recent aqueous activity on Mars. The exact composition of these hydrous minerals has remained uncertain, inhibiting our understanding of the aqueous processes and potential habitability on young Mars. In this study, we document unique crystal morphologies—such as radiating crystal clusters and fishtail twinning—characteristic of well-crystallized selenite, a distinctive variety of gypsum. This layer of gypsum selenite, interpreted as a primary evaporite unlike any previously identified sulfate deposits on Mars, points to the former presence of a body of surface water. While the findings could be consistent with evaporation from a hypothesized paleo-ocean in the northern lowlands, the Amazonian age and geologic context suggest a more plausible origin: melting of surface and ground ice, and groundwater upwelling driven by magmatic activity during the Amazonian period.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-412262

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