Jarosite stability on Mars |
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Authors: | Alexandra Navrotsky,Ferenc Lá zá r Forray |
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Affiliation: | a Thermochemistry Facility, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California at Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA b CIRIMAT, UMR CNRS 5085, Physico-Chimie des Phosphates, ENSIACET, 118 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse cedex 04, France |
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Abstract: | Jarosite, a potassium (sodium) iron sulphate hydrated mineral, has recently been identified on the martian surface by the Opportunity rover. Using recent thermochemical data [Drouet and Navrotsky, 2003, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 67, 2063-2076; Forray et al., 2005, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, in press], we calculate the equilibrium decomposition curve of jarosite and show that it is thermodynamically stable under most present martian pressures and temperatures. Its stability makes jarosite potentially useful to retain textural, chemical, and isotopic evidence of past history, including possible biological activity, on Mars. |
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Keywords: | Mars climate Mineralogy Jarosite Mineral stability |
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