Carbonate minerals found in the Comet Geyser sample suggest that water, carbon dioxide, and chemical elements from rocks or sediments in the ancient Jezero crater combined to form carbonate. Silica phases, on the other hand, are formed when water interacts with rocks or sediments. The composition and crystallinity of silica can provide information about weathering conditions, such as intensity and duration, as well as pressure and temperature during formation. Carbonate minerals in Earth’s rock record are often used to understand past climate conditions like temperature, precipitation, aridity, and life history.
