Simulated entrapment of microorganisms in halite under Martian conditions and interplanetary transfer of life

ABREVAYA XIMENA; GALANTE D.; TRIBELLI P.; NOBREGA F.; ARAUJO G.; VARELA M.E.; RODLER F.; RODRIGUES F.; GALLO T.; HORVATH J. E.

Congreso; Reunion anual de usuarios del LNLS; 2016

The presence of evaporitic enviroments on Mars was evidenced during the last years through the data obtained from measurements on this planet [1-7]. Additionally, as part of these environments, there are several evidences that support the existence halites on Mars (NaCl evaporitic minerals). The evaporation of brine pockets on this planetary body is one of the hypothesis to explain their formation and the detection of halite inclusions in the SNC meteorite Nakhla is a mineralogical evidence of the presence of halites on Mars, because of its pre-terrestrial origin [8,9].