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Phosphates on Mars

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

Phosphates are the salts and esters of phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Since phosphate is a essential nutrient for life on Earth and part of the backbone of DNA, its occurrence is important for estimating the habitability on Mars. Phosphates can be derived from minerals (e.g., apatite Ca5[(PO4)3(OH, F, Cl)]) through the weathering of igneous rocks. Calcium-phosphate minerals have a high solubility in acidic water. Measurements done by the Mars Pathfinder Rover and the Mars Exploration Rover indicate that the Martian soil is enriched in phosphorus relative to the rock.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Aerospace Center DLR, Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, Germany

    Daniela Tirsch

  2. Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften Tektonik und Sedimentäre Geologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Berlin, Germany

    Alessandro Airo

Authors
  1. Daniela Tirsch
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  2. Alessandro Airo
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Correspondence to Daniela Tirsch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Tirsch, D., Airo, A. (2014). Phosphates on Mars. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_5093-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_5093-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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