Jarosite Found in Kutch-A significant link between Earth and Mars

The Matanomadh village of Gujarat’s Kutch district has been designated as an important terrestrial analogue site to Mars following a study, that recorded detection of jarosite , a mineral indicative of water-soaked past, in the region. This is 55 million years old , which is not only increasing our understanding of the Earth and its geology, but also boosting planetary science research in India with a direct impact on our Mars mission Mangalyaan-2 by ISRO in the future .”

Jarosite Geological Significance.

• Jarosite is a yellow mineral that is created when iron, sulphur, potassium, and water combine.
• On Earth, it is rare and generally occurs from volcanic activity .
• Jarosite also formed in the Paleocene in Kutch when marine water interacted with volcanic ash.
• NASA identified jarosite in 2004 on the surface of Mars with the Opportunity rover, suggesting that water was once used.
• The presence of this mineral in Matanomadh indicates that what Kutch was like in the past is what Mars is like today.

Why Matanomadh is Unique                     

• The bad landscape and the clay-based soil of the area seem to mimic the overall conditions of the Martian environment.
• The wetting features of K-saturated jarosite-rich clay are similar to the Martian soil .
• Matanomadh serves as an excellent analog not only because of its similitude to Gale but also because it has some of the most diverse and extensive outcrops of any traverse in the western NILI region, making it an ideal testing ground for rover mobility, drilling, and geochemical instruments.
• The site constitutes a natural laboratory for Mars-relevant mineralogy, astrobiology, and surface chemistry .

Mission Concepts of Planetary Exploration at ISRO.

• (ISRO's) Kutch the Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (HOPE) at Ladakh .
• Mars-like temperature and atmosphere are simulated in HOPE .
• This is after astronauts-in-training spent 10 days in a Mars habitat simulation at an altitude of 4,500 metres to test survival in low-oxygen, sub-zero temperatures.
• These labs on earth will do the critical task of preparing experiments, instruments and plans of Mangalyaan-2 and subsequent Mars missions.

Mars Exploration implications.

• Jarosite is a sign of past water , a necessary ingredient for life.
• It has the potential to host organic and prebiotic compounds, as well as life relevant elements, and consequently it is astrobiologically relevant .
• The study of jarosite from Kutch region can help to understand the Palaeo-environment, habitability and biosignatures of Mars.
• The findings are further applied in mineral exploration and in planetary science mission planning .

Conservation and Geo-Heritage Value.