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Simulation of Viking biology experiments suggests smectites not palagonites, as martian soil analoguesAn experimental comparison of palagonites and a smectite (montmorillonite) was performed in a simulation of the Viking Biology Labelled Release (LR) experiment in order to judge which mineral is a better Mars soil analog material (MarSAM). Samples of palagonite were obtained from cold weathering environments and volcanic soil, and the smectite was extracted from Wyoming Bentonite and converted to H or Fe types. Decomposition reaction kinetics were examined in the LR simulation, which on the Lander involved interaction of the martian soil with organic compounds. Reflectance spectroscopy indicated that smectites bearing Fe(III) in well-crystallized sites are not good MarSAMS. The palagonites did not cause the formate decomposition and C-14 emission detected in the LR, indicating that palagonites are also not good MarSAMS. Smectites, however, may be responsible for ion exchange, molecular adsorption, and catalysis in martian soil.
Document ID
19840027868
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Banin, A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA; Jerusalem, Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel)
Margulies, L.
(Jerusalem, Hebrew University Rehovot, Israel)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
October 6, 1983
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 305
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
84A10655
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7512
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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