Present day Mars habitability analogue environments on Earth: Difference between revisions
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Present day Mars habitability analogue environments on Earth (edit)
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So magnesium sulfate is a likely component of cold brines on the planet, especially with the limited availability of subsurface ice. Terrestrial magnesium sulfate lakes have similar chemical and physical properties. They also have a wide range of halophilic organisms, in all the three [[Kingdom (biology)#The three domains of life|Kingdoms of life]] (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryota), in the surface and near subsurface.<ref name="FosterKing2010">{{cite journal|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032063309002463|last1=Foster|first1=Ian S.|last2=King|first2=Penelope L.|last3=Hyde|first3=Brendt C.|last4=Southam|first4=Gordon|title=Characterization of halophiles in natural {{chem|Mg|S|O|4}} salts and laboratory enrichment samples: Astrobiological implications for Mars|journal=Planetary and Space Science|volume=58|issue=4|year=2010|pages=599–615|issn=0032-0633|doi=10.1016/j.pss.2009.08.009|bibcode=2010P&SS...58..599F}}</ref> With the abundance of algae and bacteria, in alkaline hypersaline conditions, they are of astrobiological interest for both past and present life on Mars.
These lakes are most common in Western Canada, and the northern part of Washington state, USA. One of the examples, is Basque Lake 2 in Western Columbia, which is highly concentrated in magnesium sulfate. In summer it deposits epsomite ("Epsom salts"). In winter, it deposits [[meridianiite]]. This is named after [[Meridiani Planum]] where Opportunity rover found crystal molds in sulfate deposits ([[Vugs]]) which are thought to be remains of this mineral which have since been dissolved or dehydrated. It is preferentially formed at subzero temperatures, and is only stable below 2 °C,<ref>{{cite web|title=An Earth and Mars mineral – Meridianiite MgSO4.11H2O|url=https://crystallography365.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/an-earth-and-mars-mineral-meridianiite-mgso4-11h2o/|website=Crystallography 365|date=July 30, 2014}}</ref> while Epsomite ({{chem|Mg|S|O|4}}·7{{chem|H|2|O}}) is favored at higher temperatures.<ref name="MarionCatling2010">{{cite journal|last1=Marion|first1=G.M.|last2=Catling|first2=D.C.|last3=Zahnle|first3=K.J.|last4=Claire|first4=M.W.|title=Modeling aqueous perchlorate chemistries with applications to Mars|journal=Icarus|volume=207|issue=2|year=2010|pages=675–685|issn=0019-1035|doi=10.1016/j.icarus.2009.12.003|bibcode=2010Icar..207..675M}}</ref><ref name=Webmin>{{cite web|url=http://webmineral.com/data/Meridianiite.shtml|publisher=webmineral.com|title=
{{Location map|Canada
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