Volatile and Organic Compositions of Sedimentary Rocks in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars
Authors: Ming D. W. , Archer P. D. , Glavin D. P. , Eigenbrode J. L. , Franz H. B. , Sutter B. , Brunner A. E. , Stern J. C. , Freissinet C. , McAdam A. C. , Mahaffy P. R. , Cabane M. , Coll P. , Campbell J. L. , Atreya S. K. , Niles P. B. , Bell J. F. , Bish D. L. , Brinckerhoff W. B. , Buch A. , Conrad P. G. , Des Marais D. J. , Ehlmann B. L. , Fairén A. G. , Farley K. , Flesch G. J. , Francois P. , Gellert R. , Grant J. A. , Grotzinger J. P. , Gupta S. , Herkenhoff K. E. , Hurowitz J. A. , Leshin L. A. , Lewis K. W. , McLennan S. M. , Miller K. E. , Moersch J. , Morris R. V. , Navarro-González R. , Pavlov A. A. , Perrett G. M. , Pradler I. , Squyres S. W. , Summons R. E. , Steele A. , Stolper E. M. , Sumner D. Y. , Szopa C. , Teinturier S. , Trainer M. G. , Treiman A. H. , Vaniman D. T. , Vasavada A. R. , Webster C. R. , Wray J. J. , Yingst R. A. ,   MSL Science Team, Kemppinen Osku , Bridges Nathan , Johnson Jeffrey R. , Minitti Michelle , Cremers David , Edgar Lauren , Farmer Jack , Godber Austin , Wadhwa Meenakshi , Wellington Danika , McEwan Ian , Newman Claire , Richardson Mark , Charpentier Antoine , Peret Laurent , King Penelope , Blank Jennifer , Weigle Gerald , Schmidt Mariek , Li Shuai , Milliken Ralph , Robertson Kevin , Sun Vivian , Baker Michael , Edwards Christopher , Ehlmann Bethany , Griffes Jennifer , Newcombe Megan , Pilorget Cedric , Rice Melissa , Siebach Kirsten , Stack Katie , Brunet Claude , Hipkin Victoria , Léveillé Richard , Marchand Geneviève , Sánchez Pablo Sobrón , Favot Laurent , Cody George , Flückiger Lorenzo , Lees David , Nefian Ara , Martin Mildred , Gailhanou Marc , Westall Frances , Israël Guy , Agard Christophe , Baroukh Julien , Donny Christophe , Gaboriaud Alain , Guillemot Philippe , Lafaille Vivian , Lorigny Eric , Paillet Alexis , Pérez René , Saccoccio Muriel , Yana Charles , Armiens‐Aparicio Carlos , Rodríguez Javier Caride , Blázquez Isaías Carrasco , Gómez Felipe Gómez , Gómez-Elvira Javier , Hettrich Sebastian , Malvitte Alain Lepinette , Jiménez Mercedes Marín , Martínez-Frías Jesús , Martín-Soler Javier , Martín-Torres F. Javier , Jurado Antonio Molina , Mora-Sotomayor Luis , Caro Guillermo Muñoz , López Sara Navarro , Peinado-González Verónica , Pla-García Jorge , Manfredi José Antonio Rodriguez , Romeral-Planelló Julio José , Fuentes Sara Alejandra Sans , Martinez Eduardo Sebastian , Redondo Josefina Torres , Urqui-O'Callaghan Roser , Mier María-Paz Zorzano , Chipera Steve , Lacour Jean-Luc , Mauchien Patrick , Sirven Jean-Baptiste , Manning Heidi , Hayes Alexander , Joseph Jonathan , Sullivan Robert , Thomas Peter , Dupont Audrey , Lundberg Angela , Melikechi Noureddine , Mezzacappa Alissa , DeMarines Julia , Grinspoon David , Reitz Günther , Prats Benito , Atlaskin Evgeny , Genzer Maria , Harri Ari-Matti , Haukka Harri , Kahanpää Henrik , Kauhanen Janne , Kemppinen Osku , Paton Mark , Polkko Jouni , Schmidt Walter , Siili Tero , Fabre Cécile , Wilhelm Mary Beth , Poitrasson Franck , Patel Kiran , Gorevan Stephen , Indyk Stephen , Paulsen Gale , Schieber Juergen , Gondet Brigitte , Langevin Yves , Geffroy Claude , Baratoux David , Berger Gilles , Cros Alain , d’Uston Claude , Forni Olivier , Gasnault Olivier , Lasue Jérémie , Lee Qiu-Mei , Maurice Sylvestre , Meslin Pierre-Yves , Pallier Etienne , Parot Yann , Pinet Patrick , Schröder Susanne , Toplis Mike , Lewin Éric , Brunner Will , Heydari Ezat , Achilles Cherie , Oehler Dorothy , Coscia David , Israël Guy , Dromart Gilles , Robert François , Sautter Violaine , Le Mouélic Stéphane , Mangold Nicolas , Nachon Marion , Stalport Fabien , Raulin François , Cameron James , Clegg Sam , Cousin Agnès , DeLapp Dorothea , Dingler Robert , Jackson Ryan Steele , Johnstone Stephen , Lanza Nina , Little Cynthia , Nelson Tony , Wiens Roger C. , Williams Richard B. , Jones Andrea , Kirkland Laurel , Baker Burt , Cantor Bruce , Caplinger Michael , Davis Scott , Duston Brian , Edgett Kenneth , Fay Donald , Hardgrove Craig , Harker David , Herrera Paul , Jensen Elsa , Kennedy Megan R. , Krezoski Gillian , Krysak Daniel , Lipkaman Leslie , Malin Michael , McCartney Elaina , McNair Sean , Nixon Brian , Posiolova Liliya , Ravine Michael , Salamon Andrew , Saper Lee , Stoiber Kevin , Supulver Kimberley , Van Beek Jason , Van Beek Tessa , Zimdar Robert , French Katherine Louise , Iagnemma Karl , Miller Kristen , Goesmann Fred , Goetz Walter , Hviid Stubbe , Johnson Micah , Lefavor Matthew , Lyness Eric , Breves Elly , Dyar M. Darby , Fassett Caleb , Blake David F. , Bristow Thomas , Edwards Laurence , Haberle Robert , Hoehler Tori , Hollingsworth Jeff , Kahre Melinda , Keely Leslie , McKay Christopher , Wilhelm Mary Beth , Bleacher Lora , Choi David , Dworkin Jason P. , Floyd Melissa , Garvin James , Harpold Daniel , Jones Andrea , Martin David K. , Raaen Eric , Smith Michael D. , Tan Florence , Meyer Michael , Posner Arik , Voytek Mary , Anderson Robert C. , Aubrey Andrew , Beegle Luther W. , Behar Alberto , Blaney Diana , Brinza David , Calef Fred , Christensen Lance , Crisp Joy A. , DeFlores Lauren , Feldman Jason , Feldman Sabrina , Jun Insoo , Keymeulen Didier , Maki Justin , Mischna Michael , Morookian John Michael , Parker Timothy , Pavri Betina , Schoppers Marcel , Sengstacken Aaron , Simmonds John J. , Spanovich Nicole , Juarez Manuel de la Torre , Yen Albert , Cucinotta Francis , Jones John H. , Rampe Elizabeth , Nolan Thomas , Fisk Martin , Radziemski Leon , Barraclough Bruce , Bender Steve , Berman Daniel , Dobrea Eldar Noe , Tokar Robert , Williams Rebecca M. E. , Cleghorn Timothy , Huntress Wesley , Manhès Gérard , Hudgins Judy , Olson Timothy , Stewart Noel , Sarrazin Philippe , Vicenzi Edward , Wilson Sharon A. , Bullock Mark , Ehresmann Bent , Hamilton Victoria , Hassler Donald , Peterson Joseph , Rafkin Scot , Zeitlin Cary , Fedosov Fedor , Golovin Dmitry , Karpushkina Natalya , Kozyrev Alexander , Litvak Maxim , Malakhov Alexey , Mitrofanov Igor , Mokrousov Maxim , Nikiforov Sergey , Prokhorov Vasily , Sanin Anton , Tretyakov Vladislav , Varenikov Alexey , Vostrukhin Andrey , Kuzmin Ruslan , Clark Benton , Wolff Michael , Botta Oliver , Drake Darrell , Bean Keri , Lemmon Mark , Schwenzer Susanne P. , Anderson Ryan B. , Lee Ella Mae , Sucharski Robert , Hernández Miguel Ángel de Pablo , Ávalos Juan José Blanco , Ramos Miguel , Kim Myung-Hee , Malespin Charles , Plante Ianik , Muller Jan-Peter , Ewing Ryan , Boynton William , Downs Robert , Fitzgibbon Mike , Harshman Karl , Morrison Shaunna , Dietrich William , Kortmann Onno , Palucis Marisa , Williams Amy , Lugmair Günter , Wilson Michael A. , Rubin David , Jakosky Bruce , Balic-Zunic Tonci , Frydenvang Jens , Jensen Jaqueline Kløvgaard , Kinch Kjartan , Koefoed Asmus , Madsen Morten Bo , Stipp Susan Louise Svane , Boyd Nick , VanBommel Scott , Jacob Samantha , Owen Tobias , Rowland Scott , Atlaskin Evgeny , Savijärvi Hannu , Boehm Eckart , Böttcher Stephan , Burmeister Sönke , Guo Jingnan , Köhler Jan , García César Martín , Mueller-Mellin Reinhold , Wimmer-Schweingruber Robert , Bridges John C. , McConnochie Timothy , Benna Mehdi , Bower Hannah , Blau Hannah , Boucher Thomas , Carmosino Marco , Elliott Harvey , Halleaux Douglas , Rennó Nilton , Wong Michael , Pepin Robert , Elliott Beverley , Spray John , Thompson Lucy , Gordon Suzanne , Newsom Horton , Ollila Ann , Williams Joshua , Vasconcelos Paulo , Bentz Jennifer , Nealson Kenneth , Popa Radu , Kah Linda C. , Tate Christopher , Day Mackenzie , Kocurek Gary , Hallet Bernard , Sletten Ronald , Francis Raymond , McCullough Emily , Cloutis Ed , ten Kate Inge Loes , Kuzmin Ruslan , Arvidson Raymond , Fraeman Abigail , Scholes Daniel , Slavney Susan , Stein Thomas , Ward Jennifer , Berger Jeffrey , Moores John E. 
Published: December 2013

H
2
O, CO
2
, SO
2
, O
2
, H
2
, H
2
S, HCl, chlorinated hydrocarbons, NO, and other trace gases were evolved during pyrolysis of two mudstone samples acquired by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay within Gale crater, Mars. H
2
O/OH-bearing phases included 2:1 phyllosilicate(s), bassanite, akaganeite, and amorphous materials. Thermal decomposition of carbonates and combustion of organic materials are candidate sources for the CO
2
. Concurrent evolution of O
2
and chlorinated hydrocarbons suggests the presence of oxychlorine phase(s). Sulfides are likely sources for sulfur-bearing species. Higher abundances of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the mudstone compared with Rocknest windblown materials previously analyzed by Curiosity suggest that indigenous martian or meteoritic organic carbon sources may be preserved in the mudstone; however, the carbon source for the chlorinated hydrocarbons is not definitively of martian origin.