A New Approach to In-situ K-Ar Geochronology

Abstract

The development of an in-situ geochronology capability for Mars and other planetary surfaces has the potential to fundamentally change our understanding of the evolution of terrestrial bodies in the Solar System. For Mars specifically, many of our most basic scientific questions about the geologic history of the planet require knowledge of the absolute time at which an event or process took place on its surface. For instance, what was the age and rate of early Martian climate change recorded in the mineralogy and morphology of surface lithologies (e.g., [1])? In-situ ages from a few select locations within the globally established stratigraphy of Mars would be transformative, enabling us to place direct chronologic constraints on the timing and rates of impact, volcanic, sedimentary, and aqueous processes on the Martian surface.