Characterization of the acidic cold seep emplaced jarositic Golden Deposit, NWT, Canada, as an analogue for jarosite deposition on Mars

► There is evidence for jarosite at Meridiani Planum and Mawrth Vallis, Mars. ► Depositional mechanisms for jarosite on Mars are not known. ► The cold seep emplaced jarositic Golden Deposit serves as a depositional analogue. ► Mineralogy and reflectance spectra of the GD jarosite are analogous to martian deposits. ► Jarosite is stable on Mars and may preserve evidence of paleoenvironments or life.