Bandfield Joshua L, Glotch Timothy D, Christensen Philip R
Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-6305, USA.
Science. 2003 Aug 22;301(5636):1084-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1088054.
Thermal infrared spectra of the martian surface indicate the presence of small concentrations (approximately 2 to 5 weight %) of carbonates, specifically dominated by magnesite (MgCO3). The carbonates are widely distributed in the martian dust, and there is no indication of a concentrated source. The presence of small concentrations of carbonate minerals in the surface dust and in martian meteorites can sequester several bars of atmospheric carbon dioxide and may have been an important sink for a thicker carbon dioxide atmosphere in the martian past.
火星表面的热红外光谱表明存在低浓度（约2%至5%重量比）的碳酸盐，其中菱镁矿（MgCO3）占主导。这些碳酸盐广泛分布于火星尘埃中，没有迹象显示存在集中来源。表面尘埃和火星陨石中低浓度碳酸盐矿物的存在能够封存若干巴的大气二氧化碳，这可能是火星过去较浓厚二氧化碳大气层的一个重要汇。
