Carbonate minerals are commonly found in Earth’s rock record and are used to understand past climate conditions. These minerals form when water, carbon dioxide, and elements from rocks or sediments combine to create carbonate. The Comet Geyser sample contains carbonate, indicating that such a reaction took place in the ancient Jezero crater.
Silica phases are also created when water interacts with rocks or sediments. The composition and crystallinity of silica can inform about the intensity or duration of weathering, as well as the pressure and temperature conditions during its formation. Similarly, carbonate minerals provide information about the climate conditions during their formation.
In summary, both carbonate and silica minerals are important tools for understanding past climate conditions, including temperature, precipitation, aridity, and the history of life on Earth. The presence of these minerals in the Comet Geyser sample suggests that a reaction occurred between water, carbon dioxide, and chemical elements from rocks or sediments in the ancient Jezero crater to form carbonate.