Are there poisons in Mars dust or rocks that could affect human explorers?
There are a number of possible poisons on Mars’ surface, and it will take a variety of measurements to identify them. For example, when the Viking Landers visited Mars’ surface and tested the soil for microscopic organisms, some of the results suggested the presence of strong, toxic chemicals called peroxides or superoxides. Currently there is no information about hazardous rock and soil material, but CRISM will begin to assemble that information. For example, in some locations, Martian rocks have been altered by water into a type of mineral called phyllosilicate, or clay. Another class of mineral that can form from alteration of Mars’ rocks by water is serpentine, which can contain the toxic substance asbestos. CRISM is able to detect and map these types of minerals so that human explorers could avoid them.
