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They often occur as nanoparticulate or X-ray amorphous iron (hydr)oxides, which are challenging to identify with mineralogical techniques\u2014especially those that require any type of heating, which also makes them susceptible to alteration in response to diagenetic processes. Reactive iron species have been identified on Mars in the form of nanophase ferric oxides in Gusev crater and at Meridiani Planum with Spirit\u2019s and Opportunity\u2019s M\u00f6ssbauer spectrometers, respectively, and as Fe-rich amorphous material in Gale crater with Curiosity\u2019s CheMin X-ray diffraction channel. Here, we use the amount of reactive iron minerals and geochemical evidence for diagenetic processes to assess the relative preservation potential of sedimentary rocks at these three landing sites. Sedimentary rocks in Gale crater show the highest preservation potential, and organic carbon compounds have been identified in these rocks. Sedimentary rocks in Gusev crater show equally high preservation potential. However, reactive Fe minerals can also react with organic carbon when heat is added during pyrolysis and laser desorption. These effects need to be considered to determine accurately the organic carbon inventory measured during current and future missions as well as in returned samples.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/15311074261475984","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T15:49:41Z","timestamp":1786636181000},"page":"715-726","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Reactive Iron Mineral Phases on Mars: Implications for Organic Carbon Preservation"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Emily","family":"Bonsall","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eileen","family":"Tisdall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christian","family":"Schr\u00f6der","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_2_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1029\/2010JE003746"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1029\/2008JE003183"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11214-021-00812-z"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gca.2018.11.031"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_6_1","volume-title":"Summary and Geological Context of MSL APXS Targets from Sol 0 to 3076","author":"Berger JA","year":"2022","unstructured":"Berger JA. 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