Opal Crystals on Mars: Implications for Geochemical Conditions

[Edge5]

People found silica opals exist on the planet Mars, what does this imply about geochemical conditions on Mars?

 

[Borg]

Could you post a reference to that?

 

[.Scott]

Could you post a reference to that?

Here is a 2015 article that studied a Martian meteorite - and discovered some opal:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/maps.12471

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found hydrated silica (opal) in 2008:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/mro-20081028.html

 

[Ratman]

Don't forget what poor old Spirit rover found in situ: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms13554
What it says is that Mars had some hydrothermal activity in the past. This is not unexpected on planet with a history of volcanic activity and violent impact heating – both endo- and exogenic processes may be responsible for these deposits. The discovery is also intriguing as the hydrothermal vents are among the best spots to look for interesting chemistry, up to biological processes. In fact, terrestrial life might have started near deep sea vents, far from dangerous surface conditions of the Hadean Earth.
As a side note, opal =/= crystals.