Mineral Evolution of Mineral Evolution of Terrestrial PlanetsTerrestrial Planets

Robert Hazen, CIWRobert Hazen, CIWDominic Papineau, CIWDominic Papineau, CIW

Wouter Bleeker, GSCWouter Bleeker, GSCRobert Downs, UARobert Downs, UAJohn Ferry, JHUJohn Ferry, JHU

Tim McCoy, NMNHTim McCoy, NMNHDimitri Sverjensky, JHUDimitri Sverjensky, JHU

Hexiong Yang, UAHexiong Yang, UAAbSciCon 2008 – Session 24AbSciCon 2008 – Session 24Biosignatures in MineralsBiosignatures in Minerals

Wednesday, 16 April, 11:45 amWednesday, 16 April, 11:45 am

What Is Mineral Evolution?What Is Mineral Evolution?What Is Mineral Evolution?What Is Mineral Evolution?

A change over time in:A change over time in:

• The diversity of mineral speciesThe diversity of mineral species

• The relative abundances of mineralsThe relative abundances of minerals

• The compositional ranges of mineralsThe compositional ranges of minerals

• The grain sizes and morphologies of The grain sizes and morphologies of mineralsminerals

““Ur”-MineralogyUr”-Mineralogy““Ur”-MineralogyUr”-MineralogyPre-solar grains contain about a dozen micro-

and nano-mineral phases:

• Diamond/Lonsdaleite• Graphite• Moissanite (SiC)• Osbornite (TiN)• Nierite (Si3N4)• Rutile• Corundum• Spinel• Hibbonite (CaAl12O19)• Forsterite• Nano-particles of TiC, ZrC, MoC, FeC, Fe-Ni

metal within graphite.• GEMS (silicate glass with embedded metal

and sulfide).

How did we get from a How did we get from a dozen minerals to dozen minerals to

>4300 on Earth today?>4300 on Earth today?

(Focus on near-surface)(Focus on near-surface)

What Drives Mineral Evolution?What Drives Mineral Evolution?What Drives Mineral Evolution?What Drives Mineral Evolution?

Deterministic and stochastic processes that Deterministic and stochastic processes that occur on any terrestrial body:occur on any terrestrial body:

1.1. The progressive separation and The progressive separation and concentration of chemical elements concentration of chemical elements from their original uniform distribution.from their original uniform distribution.

2.2. An increase in the range of intensive An increase in the range of intensive variables (T, P, activities of volatiles).variables (T, P, activities of volatiles).

3.3. The generation of far-from-equilibrium The generation of far-from-equilibrium conditions by living systems.conditions by living systems.

Three Eras ofThree Eras ofEarth’s Mineral EvolutionEarth’s Mineral Evolution

Three Eras ofThree Eras ofEarth’s Mineral EvolutionEarth’s Mineral Evolution

1.1. The Era of Planetary The Era of Planetary AccretionAccretion

2.2. The Era of Crust and The Era of Crust and Mantle ReworkingMantle Reworking

3.3. The Era of Bio-Mediated The Era of Bio-Mediated MineralogyMineralogy

Stage 1: Primary Chondrite Minerals Stage 1: Primary Chondrite Minerals Stage 1: Primary Chondrite Minerals Stage 1: Primary Chondrite Minerals

Minerals formed ~4.56 Ga in the Solar nebula “as a consequence of condensation,

melt solidification or solid-state recrystallization” (MacPherson 2007)

~60 mineral species:• CAIs• Chondrules• Silicate matrix• Opaque phases

Stage 2: Aqueous alteration, Stage 2: Aqueous alteration, metamorphism and differentiation of metamorphism and differentiation of

planetesimalsplanetesimals

Stage 2: Aqueous alteration, Stage 2: Aqueous alteration, metamorphism and differentiation of metamorphism and differentiation of

planetesimalsplanetesimals~250 mineral known species: 4.56-4.55 Ga

• First albite & K-spar• First significant SiO2

• Feldspathoids• Hydrous biopyriboles• Clay minerals• Zircon• Shock phases

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock Evolution(4.55-4.0 Ga)(4.55-4.0 Ga)

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock Evolution(4.55-4.0 Ga)(4.55-4.0 Ga)

Partial melting, fractional crystallization and magma immiscibility

Norman Bowen

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionVolatile-poor BodyVolatile-poor Body

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionVolatile-poor BodyVolatile-poor Body

~350 mineral species?

Is this the end point of the Moon and Mercury?

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionVolatile-rich Body (4.55-4.0 Ga)Volatile-rich Body (4.55-4.0 Ga)

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionVolatile-rich Body (4.55-4.0 Ga)Volatile-rich Body (4.55-4.0 Ga)

Volcanism, outgasing and surface hydration.

>500 mineral species (hydroxides, clays)

The Formation of the Moon

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionVolatile-rich BodyVolatile-rich Body

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionVolatile-rich BodyVolatile-rich Body

>500 mineral species (hydroxides, clays)

Volcanism, outgasing and surface hydration.

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionVolatile-rich BodyVolatile-rich Body

Stage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionStage 3: Initiation of Igneous Rock EvolutionVolatile-rich BodyVolatile-rich Body

Is this as far as Mars or Venus progressed?

Volcanism, outgasing and surface hydration.

Stage 4: Granitoid Formation (>3.5 Ga)Stage 4: Granitoid Formation (>3.5 Ga)Stage 4: Granitoid Formation (>3.5 Ga)Stage 4: Granitoid Formation (>3.5 Ga)

>1000 mineral species

Partial melting of basalt and/or sediments.

(pegmatites)

Stage 4: Granitoid Formation (>3.5 Ga)Stage 4: Granitoid Formation (>3.5 Ga)Stage 4: Granitoid Formation (>3.5 Ga)Stage 4: Granitoid Formation (>3.5 Ga)

>1000 mineral species

Complex pegmatites require multiple cycles of eutectic melting and fluid

concentration (i.e., younger than 3.5 Ga?).

(pegmatites)

Stage 4: Granitoid FormationStage 4: Granitoid FormationStage 4: Granitoid FormationStage 4: Granitoid Formation

Are there pegmatites on Mars?Are there pegmatites on Mars?

Are there emeralds on Venus?Are there emeralds on Venus?

Stage 5: Plate tectonics and large-scale Stage 5: Plate tectonics and large-scale hydrothermal reworking of the crust (>3 Ga)hydrothermal reworking of the crust (>3 Ga)

Stage 5: Plate tectonics and large-scale Stage 5: Plate tectonics and large-scale hydrothermal reworking of the crust (>3 Ga)hydrothermal reworking of the crust (>3 Ga)

1,500 mineral species (sulfides, sulphosalts)

Massive base metal deposits; exposure of high-P metamorphic terrains; new hydrated minerals.

Stage 5: Plate tectonics and large-scale Stage 5: Plate tectonics and large-scale hydrothermal reworking of the crust (>3 Ga)hydrothermal reworking of the crust (>3 Ga)

Stage 5: Plate tectonics and large-scale Stage 5: Plate tectonics and large-scale hydrothermal reworking of the crust (>3 Ga)hydrothermal reworking of the crust (>3 Ga)

Does the origin of life require some minimal degree of mineral evolution?

Stage 6: Anoxic Archean biosphere Stage 6: Anoxic Archean biosphere (3.9-2.5 Ga)(3.9-2.5 Ga)

Stage 6: Anoxic Archean biosphere Stage 6: Anoxic Archean biosphere (3.9-2.5 Ga)(3.9-2.5 Ga)

~1,500 mineral species (BIFs, carbonates,sulfates, evaporites, skarns)

Photo credit: D. PapineauPhoto credit: D. Papineau

Temagami BIFs, ~2.7 GaTemagami BIFs, ~2.7 Ga

Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation (2.5-1.9 Ga)(2.5-1.9 Ga)

Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation (2.5-1.9 Ga)(2.5-1.9 Ga)

>4000 mineral species, including perhaps 2,000 new oxides/hydroxides

Rise of oxidative photosynthesis.

Negaunee BIF, ~1.9 GaNegaunee BIF, ~1.9 Ga

Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation (2.5-1.9 Ga)(2.5-1.9 Ga)

Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation (2.5-1.9 Ga)(2.5-1.9 Ga)

>4000 mineral species (oxy-hydroxides)

202 of 220 U minerals

319 of 451 Mn minerals

47 of 56 Ni minerals

582 of 790 Fe minerals

Piedmontite

Garnierite

Xanthoxenite

Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation (2.5-1.9 Ga)(2.5-1.9 Ga)

Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation Stage 7: Paleoproterozoic Oxidation (2.5-1.9 Ga)(2.5-1.9 Ga)

Especially copper minerals!

Stage 8: The “Intermediate Ocean”Stage 8: The “Intermediate Ocean”(1.9-1.0 Ga)(1.9-1.0 Ga)

Stage 8: The “Intermediate Ocean”Stage 8: The “Intermediate Ocean”(1.9-1.0 Ga)(1.9-1.0 Ga)

>4000 mineral species (few new species)

Oxidized surface ocean; deep-ocean anoxia.

Stage 9: Snowball Earth and Neoproterozoic Stage 9: Snowball Earth and Neoproterozoic Oxidation (1.0-0.542 Ga)Oxidation (1.0-0.542 Ga)

Stage 9: Snowball Earth and Neoproterozoic Stage 9: Snowball Earth and Neoproterozoic Oxidation (1.0-0.542 Ga)Oxidation (1.0-0.542 Ga)

>4000 mineral species (few new species)

Glacial cycles triggered by albedo feedback.

Skeleton Coast, NamibiaSkeleton Coast, Namibia

Stage 10: Phanerozoic BiomineralizationStage 10: Phanerozoic Biomineralization(<0.542 Ga)(<0.542 Ga)

Stage 10: Phanerozoic BiomineralizationStage 10: Phanerozoic Biomineralization(<0.542 Ga)(<0.542 Ga)

>4,300 mineral species

Implications of Mineral EvolutionImplications of Mineral EvolutionImplications of Mineral EvolutionImplications of Mineral Evolution

• Defines a way to categorize Defines a way to categorize terrestrial planets and moons. terrestrial planets and moons.

• Implies mission targets: mineral Implies mission targets: mineral biosignatures (and abiosignatures).biosignatures (and abiosignatures).

• Provides insights on the evolution Provides insights on the evolution of complex systems.of complex systems.

•Represents a new way to frame Represents a new way to frame (and to teach) mineralogy.(and to teach) mineralogy.

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions

• The mineralogy of terrestrial planets The mineralogy of terrestrial planets and moons evolves in both and moons evolves in both deterministic and stochastic ways.deterministic and stochastic ways.

• Three principal mechanisms of change:Three principal mechanisms of change:1.1. Element segregation & concentrationElement segregation & concentration2.2. Increasing ranges of T, P and XIncreasing ranges of T, P and X3.3. Influence of living systems.Influence of living systems.

• Different bodies achieve differentDifferent bodies achieve different stages of mineral evolution.stages of mineral evolution.