From Scotland to Mars: Biosignatures in the Clachtoll & Diabaig formations

Geological and geomorphological observations indicate that the early Martian climate was able to support a widespread and long-lived hydrosphere. In contrast to present day Mars, this warmer and wetter climate may have been habitable, and evidence of microbial life in the form of localized geochemical enrichments may be preserved within clay bearing Martian sedimentary rocks.

The sedimentary rocks from the Clachtoll and Diabaig formations (Stoer and Torridon Groups; NW Scotland) formed in river, lake and estuary environments, have preserved biosignatures on billion-year timescales.  Using samples from these rock types, researchers are looking to constrain a link between areas of preserved organic matter and localized elemental enrichments associated with past life.

This work will form the basis for further investigations surrounding the cross-calibration of two instruments on the ESA/NASA ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover set to launch in 2028 with the goal to search for evidence of past life on Mars—Enfys, a mast-mounted near infrared reflectance spectrometer, and PanCam, a Panoramic Camera providing geological, mineralogical, and geomorphological context through stereo and multispectral imaging.