The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover has measured background levels of atmospheric methane a metre above the Martian surface of 0.41 ± 0.16 ppb/sol with spikes of up to 7 ppb1,2. Ground-based observations suggest larger methane spikes (plumes) with an average peak of 33 ppb and a maximum value of 45 ppb3. The UV irradiation of meteoric-derived organic matter within surface sediments appears to be one of the most plausible mechanisms for producing low background levels of methane4,5. However, the cause(s) for seasonal changes in methane background levels and methane spikes remain enigmatic. Additional proposed sources of methane include hydrothermal reactions with olivine6,7, organic breakdown via meteoroid impact4,8, release from gas hydrates9, or biological production6,10. It has also been suggested that the release of methane from fluid inclusions in basalt during aeolian erosion could release detectable methane to the Martian atmosphere11, yet to date, there has been no quantitative estimate of this flux. Further, the potential for the aeolian abrasion of sedimentary rocks to produce the methane concentrations detected by Curiosity and ground-based observations is completely unexplored, despite the presence of abundant sedimentary rocks on the Martian surface, including Gale Crater12.

Due to the current lack of significant liquid water, it is likely that aeolian abrasion has been a dominant mechanism of surface weathering on the Martian surface for the last 3 billion years13. The average erosion rate on Mars between the Hesperian and present are many orders of magnitude lower than those on Earth, of the range 1 × 10−5–0.01 µm yr−1 14. More recent examination of HiRISE time-lapse images have suggested far higher rates of local abrasion underneath active sand dunes that can match those in some arid regions on Earth. Inter-dune field abrasion rates of local basaltic bedrock are in the range of 0.1–50 µm yr−1 15,16. Importantly, many terrestrial minerals and rocks contain gases trapped in discrete inclusions, fractures or within the grains themselves (intragranularly)11,17. This includes not only igneous rocks, such as basalts, but evaporites and mudstones, all of which are exposed on the Martian surface12,18. A recent analysis of a range of Martian meteorites has confirmed the presence of methane gas trapped within Martian basalt inclusions, with coincident concentrations of other gases indicating a Martian origin rather than later terrestrial contamination19. Methane in terrestrial basalts (and by analogy Martian basalts) most likely derives from a combination of original magmatic methane and methane generated through water-rock interactions at elevated temperatures19,20. In contrast, methane preserved within sedimentary deposits formed in surface environments on Earth, typically has a biogenic origin (from the local activity of in situ methanogenic bacteria living within the sediments of the primary evaporitic environment) and/or a thermogenic origin (resulting from the thermal alteration of biological organic matter)21.

On Earth the release of methane from fluid inclusions is a negligible component of atmospheric methane. This is due to the far greater fluxes of methane from extant biology21, anthropogenic sources21, thermogenic sources21, and to a smaller extent abiogenic sources from active volcanism and hydrothermal activity21. On present day Mars, however, there is greater potential for fluid inclusion release to have a significant impact on atmospheric chemistry. This is owing to the combination of far lower atmospheric pressures (approximately 7–10 mbar22), meaning the escaped methane would be less diluted, with very low background methane concentrations (sub ppb) in the Martian atmosphere1,2,19. Additionally, there is a lack of evidence for present day substantial methane fluxes from biogenic, thermogenic or abiogenic sources23.

Here, via unpublished and previously published laboratory measurements, we estimate the potential production of methane in the Martian atmosphere from the release of methane within fluid inclusions via aeolian abrasion.

Estimation of methane fluxes from aeolian abrasion at varying time-scales

We estimate methane fluxes from aeolian abrasion by combining estimates of a range of current Martian surface abrasion rates (µm yr−1) with published and newly determined methane contents (nmol g−1) from a range of SNC meteorites and analogue terrestrial rocks. For basalt, we used abrasion rates of 1 × 10−5 µm yr−1 as measured by Pathfinder to represent average rates since the Hesperian14 and assume a tenfold greater rate of abrasion for softer layered sedimentary rocks (e.g. mudstone)15. We used an average rate of abrasion of 0.75 µm yr−1, as measured from radiometric dating by Curiosity12, to represent long term abrasion rates in Gale Crater where Curiosity has observed background methane and methane plumes2. A rate of 0.75 µm yr−1 is also representative of rates of basalt sand abrasion under actively moving sand dunes15. To represent the highest estimates of abrasion in active sand dune fields on vertical rock faces, we used 50 µm yr−1 for basalt16, and tenfold greater (500 µm yr−1) for evaporites and mudstones/shales. The methane contents of Martian and terrestrial basalts, and terrestrial evaporites, minerals (quartz, plagioclase feldspar, magnetite) and mudstones/shales from a combination of published literature and new experiments were determined by a variety of different methods (Supplementary Methods).

We first calculated gas fluxes from aeolian abrasion for a period of one hour, assuming vertical mixing over a 0.5 km atmospheric height. These calculations are relevant for short-term (20 min to 1 hour) in situ measurements taken by the Curiosity Rover around Gale Crater1,2. We also calculated gas fluxes integrated over 30 sols, assuming vertical mixing over the entire Martian atmospheric column. These calculations are relevant for the formation of larger scale methane plumes3 (Supplementary Methods).

Aeolian abrasion of basalt is unlikely to explain observed methane plumes

Figures 1a,d,g and 2a,d,g show the methane flux from basalt and Martian meteorite samples using three different abrasion rates over a period of 1 hour and 30 sols respectively. Over a time period of 30 sols, abrasion rates of 1 × 10−5 µm yr−1 and 0.75 μm yr−1 are unable to produce sufficient methane to compete with estimates generated from the breakdown of meteoritic material by UV irradiation5. Even the highest abrasion rate of 50 μm yr−1 is incapable of producing concentrations of methane above the atmospheric background levels determined by the Curiosity rover (Fig. 1). Our data (Figs 1 and 2) also demonstrate that, when analysed by the same method (crush-fast scan technique), the range of methane contents of terrestrial basalts encompasses that of Martian meteorites. Therefore, it seems unlikely that Martian basalt will have substantially higher methane contents than their terrestrial counterparts, particularly given the potential for incorporation of biogenic carbon into terrestrial basalts via plate tectonic recycling. From our data, we conclude that the aeolian erosion of basaltic-type rocks and derived sand grains on Mars is an unlikely mechanism for the elevated methane concentrations detected by both ground-based observations3 and the Curiosity rover2 unless there were substantially higher concentrations contained within other types of igneous rocks on Mars (e.g. peridotites24).

Figure 1 Estimated methane fluxes from the aeolian abrasion of analogue Martian rock samples using a one hour time period and assuming vertical mixing over 0.5 km. A range of abrasion rates from published literature were used to calculate the methane fluxes: (a) basalt with an abrasion rate of 1 × 10−5 µm yr−1, (b) evaporites, 1 × 10−4 µm yr−1, (c) mudstone/shale, 1 × 10−4 µm yr−1, (d) basalt, 0.75 µm yr−1, (e) evaporites, 0.75 µm yr−1, (f) shale, 0.75 µm yr−1, (g) basalt, 50 µm yr−1, (h) evaporites, 500 µm yr−1, (i) mudstone/shale, 500 µm yr−1. The purple line is the average (33 ppb) methane flux of the plume measured by ground-based observations3, the red and blue lines are the peak (700 ppb) and average (400 ppb) values of methane measured by the Curiosity rover respectively2 and the dashed line represents the methane flux from organic breakdown5. The box that represents each sample is bound by the maximum and minimum flux from a range of measurements (see Supplementary Information), and the line situated in the box represents the median value of the fluxes from the samples. Full size image

Figure 2 Estimated methane fluxes from the aeolian abrasion of analogue Martian rock samples using a period of 30 sols and assuming vertical mixing over the entire Martian atmospheric column; a – g the methane flux was calculated from: (a) basalt with abrasion rate of 1 × 10−5 µm yr−1, (b) evaporites, 1 × 10−4 µm yr−1, (c) shale, 1 × 10−4 µm yr−1, (d) basalt, 0.75 µm yr−1, (e) evaporites, 0.75 µm yr−1, (f) mudstone/shale, 0.75 µm yr−1, (g) basalt, 50 µm yr−1, (h) evaporites, 500 µm yr−1, (i) mudstone/shale, 500 µm yr−1. The purple line is the average (33 ppb) methane flux of the plume measured by ground-based observations3, the red and blue lines are the peak (700 ppb) and average (400 ppb) values of methane measured by the Curiosity rover respectively2 and the dashed line represents the methane flux from organic breakdown5. The box that represents each sample is bound by the maximum and minimum flux from a range of measurements (see Supplementary Information), and the line situated in the box represents the median value of the fluxes from the samples. Full size image

The potential formation of methane plumes from the aeolian abrasion of sedimentary rocks

At Gale Crater, the surface geology is dominated by mudstones and sandstones12. The mudstones are thought to represent an ancient lake environment with potentially habitable conditions12. Clay minerals have also been identified in the east of the Arabia Terra, Nili Fossae and the southeast quadrant of Syrtis Major3. These regions represent the potential source area of the larger methane plume identified by ground-based observations. Additionally, sulphate-bearing materials have been detected by visible images obtained by the MRO High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Context Camera (CTX)5 and by visible‐near infrared reflectance spectra obtained by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) from orbit stratigraphically above Curiosity’s current location25. The latter showed an abundance of hydration signatures interpreted as either sulphate-cemented clays or alternating thin beds of clay minerals and sulphates25. The detection of sulphates in the Gale Crater and their distribution on Mars as a whole provides evidence for widespread evaporitic environments involving surface to near subsurface aqueous processes extending into the Hesperian25.

Our results indicate that the aeolian abrasion of terrestrial analogue sedimentary rocks (evaporites, mudstones/shales) have the potential to produce significantly higher fluxes of methane to the Martian atmosphere compared to basalt. This is due to a combination of higher maximum methane contents and higher susceptibility to abrasion (Figs 1 and 2). For example, using the average abrasion rates of mudstones/shale at Gale Crater (0.75 μm yr−1) over a time period of one hour produces, in some cases, more than an order of magnitude greater methane concentrations than the highest methane concentrations detected by Curiosity2 . At an elevated abrasion rate of 500 µm yr−1, the most methane-rich evaporites also produce methane above measured atmospheric background levels. While such high rates of abrasion are clearly implausible averaged over the long term, they may be achievable during the abrasion of e.g. vertical faces during short duration elevated abrasion events16. On a larger scale over 30 sols, our calculations demonstrate that at an abrasion rate of 0.75 µm yr−1, the most methane-rich mudstone/shale terrestrial samples could even provide enough methane to exceed the fluxes required for the formation of larger plumes, as documented in the east of Arabia Terra, Nili Fossae, and the southeast quadrant of Syrtis Major3. However, as sedimentary deposits on Mars tend to be localized, even if the vertical methane fluxes were maintained over 30 sols, the concentrations documented in Fig. 2 would be greatly diluted via horizontal mixing1,26.

Crucially, however, the relatively high methane fluxes from the aeolian abrasion of sedimentary rocks are obtained by the use (in the absence of other data sources) of terrestrial rock analogues that include organic-rich biogenic/thermogenic deposits. In contrast, analyses of the mudstones at Gale Crater by Curiosity have so far detected organic molecules up to only 24 ppm organic carbon27,28 similar to the organic content of a range of igneous Martian meteorites (20 ± 6 ppm29), which, as we discuss above, are a highly unlikely source of detectable Martian atmospheric methane. Furthermore, the sum of inorganic carbon gases produced from Curiosity’s evolved gas analyser only suggests a total organic content of up to 2384 ppm; similar to the organic content in fine grained sediments beneath middle portions of the South Pacific Gyre (SPG) region on Earth30, rather than the highly productive marine or lacustrine environments responsible for terrestrial economic hydrocarbon deposits31. Furthermore, recent gravimetric surveys suggest that Gale Crater sediments have not been buried to sufficient depths to commence the onset of methane generation via significant organic matter thermogenesis32. Therefore, it seems highly unlikely that sediments in Gale Crater could contain comparable methane contents to methane-rich terrestrial sedimentary rocks shown in Figs 1 and 2, unless the methane is produced by a very different mechanism.

One such speculative alternative mechanism for methane production is suggested by the presence of features termed ‘hollow nodules’ within the Sheepbed member mudstones at Gale Crater. A possible interpretation of these hollow nodules is they represent ancient gas bubbles formed during authigenic mineral precipitation33. Subsequent geochemical modelling has indicated that sufficient hydrogen gas could be produced during authigenic magnetite precipitation to produce these gas bubbles26. Combined with CO 2 this hydrogen could have generated the required redox gradient to drive potential biological methanogenesis26. We note, however, that although the majority of any gas might be expected to escape during the drilling process, no elevated methane concentrations were detected during the pyrolysis of Gale Crater sediment associated with the hollow nodules34.

Finally, a recent summary of aeolian activity in Gale Crater35 demonstrates that elevated aeolian activity has occurred at Gale Crater in the southern summer season over the last several Martian years (between approximately Ls 180-Ls 360). The strong seasonality of sand fluxes at Gale Crater is consistent with observations at other sites on Mars; for example sand fluxes in the Nili Patera dune field in the Northern hemisphere are three times higher during the southern summer compared to winter36. Crucially, however, the observed sand activity at Gale Crater does not appear to have a correlation with the observed background methane concentrations detected by Curiosity at approximately Ls 180 or methane spike at Ls 90. This indicates that an alternative source of methane is required to explain the seasonal background changes and isolated higher peaks in methane detected by the MSL Curiosity.

Production and destruction of methane gas via UV and cosmic irradiation of surface rocks

A significant difference between Martian and terrestrial surface rocks is in their differing exposures to UV and cosmic radiation. Collectively the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field absorb a substantial fraction of short-wave solar UV radiation, and deflect charged particles such as galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles37. In contrast, Martian surface rocks are currently exposed to relatively high levels of UV-C irradiation and cosmic radiation. The shielding depth of the Earth’s atmosphere from ionising radiation is 1000 gcm−2 33 compared to Mars’ 16 gcm−2. Indeed, it has been suggested that UV photolytic processes could be responsible for the formation of the detected background methane via the breakdown of meteoric/cometary derived organic matter in surface sediments38 (see dashed line in Figs 1 and 2). It has been estimated from laboratory experiments that approximately 20% of meteoritic/cometary organic matter in Martian surface sediments could be converted to methane via UV irradiation, although the exact figure will depend on a variety of other factors, including the availability of water and mineral oxidants5. This conversion rate would input 64 tonnes of methane into the atmosphere per year, equivalent to an atmospheric column integrated concentration of 2.2 ppbv5. However, the penetration depth of UV in rocks is limited to a range of a few microns to less than a millimetre depending on composition39,40, and hence unlikely to make a significant impact on atmospheric methane fluxes over existing estimates4. Below the UV penetration depth, cosmic ray irradiation (including solar energetic protons and galactic cosmic rays) will typically dominate the alteration of organic molecules in the upper few metres40. While studies have examined the effects of cosmic ray irradiation on the alteration of amino acids33, there have been no studies reporting the specific effect on methane gas concentrations in representative rocks. However, it has been suggested via analogous studies on the irradiation of organic molecules in the terrestrial crust that, at least over geological periods of time, gamma irradiation could result in the polymerization of methane gas to higher molecular weight and higher C:H ratio compounds, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)31. If by analogy similar polymerization reactions are induced by cosmic ray irradiation of the upper metres of the Martian surface, then the survival of any initial methane gas trapped within fluid inclusions or fractures in rocks might be restricted to regions which have been relatively recently exhumed through e.g. meteorite excavation or scarp retreat12. We recommend further experimental studies quantifying the effects of cosmic ray irradiation on methane production and destruction within relevant analogue rock types.

From the data put forward in this paper, we conclude that aeolian abrasion of basaltic or sedimentary rocks on the Martian surface is an unlikely mechanism to produce methane concentrations detected by in situ observations from the MSL Curiosity rover and remote ground-based sensing observations. Hence, we suggest that other sources of methane gas must be inferred to explain both the seasonal variations in background atmospheric methane and higher concentration plumes detected on Mars.