FIELD MAPPING AND MINERALOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SERPENTINITE OUTCROPS IN A MARS ANALOG SETTING

Serpentinization reactions in ultramafic rocks exposed at convergent margins have the potential to support chemosynthetic microbial life since the geochemistry of the system provides energy and likely carbon for microorganisms. Life in serpentinizing waters is under study in numerous terrestrial environments, including northern CA, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Turkey, Philippines, Italy, Portugal, Norway, and Oman. Serpentine minerals associated with clays and carbonates have been observed via remote sensing on the surface of Mars in a region called Nili Fossae; knowledge of terrestrial serpentinites mineralogy can help pinpoint areas to explore for potential comparison to putative habitat on Mars. The McLaughlin Natural Reserve in northern California, administered by UC-Davis, overlays ultramafic units undergoing active serpentinization; currently, only low resolution geologic maps have been produced of this location. A preliminary survey of the reserve was carried out, involving outcrop sampling, and soil boundary identification, which were then geo-referenced in an Arc GIS map. Each sample was mineralogically analyzed using the Terra X-ray diffraction unit, samples of melanite and detrital serpentinite raised particular interest. Future work is needed to determine mineral effects on chemosynthetic habitability.