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Thermal Decomposition of Calcium Perchlorate/Iron-Mineral Mixtures: Implications of the Evolved Oxygen from the Rocknest Eolian Deposit in Gale Crater, MarsA major oxygen release between 300 and 500 C was detected by the Mars Curiosity Rover Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument at the Rocknest eolian deposit. Thermal decomposition of perchlorate (ClO4-) salts in the Rocknest samples are a possible explanation for this evolved oxygen release. Releative to Na-, K-, Mg-, and Fe-perchlorate, the thermal decomposition of Ca-perchlorate in laboratory experiments released O2 in the temperature range (400-500degC) closest to the O2 release temperatures observed for the Rocknest material. Furthermore, calcium perchlorate could have been the source of Cl in the chlorinated-hydrocarbons species that were detected by SAM. Different components in the Martian soil could affect the decomposition temperature of calcium per-chlorate or another oxychlorine species. This interaction of the two components in the soil could result in O2 release temperatures consistent with those detected by SAM in the Rocknest materials. The decomposition temperatures of various alkali metal perchlorates are known to decrease in the presence of a catalyst. The objective of this work is to investigate catalytic interactions on calcium perchlorate from various iron-bearing minerals known to be present in the Rocknest material
Document ID
20140012600
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bruck, A. M.
(Illinois State Univ. Normal, IL, United States)
Sutter, B.
(Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
Ming, D. W.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Mahaffy, P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 26, 2014
Publication Date
March 17, 2014
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-30379
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 17, 2014
End Date: March 21, 2014
Sponsors: Universities Space Research Association, Lunar and Planetary Inst., NASA Johnson Space Center
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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