Synthesis of Akaganeite in the Presence of Sulfate: Implications for Akaganeite Formation in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, MarsAkaganeite (beta-FeOOH) is an Fe(III) (hydr)oxide with a tunnel structure usually occupied by chloride. Akaganeite has been recently discovered in a mudstone on the surface of Mars by the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) and Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instruments onboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover in Gale crater [1, 2]. Akaganeite was detected together with sulfate minerals [anhydrite (CaSO4) and basanite (2CaSO4·2H2O)] in the drilled Cumberland and John Clein mudstone samples at Yellowknife Bay [2]. Discovery of akaganeite and sulfates in the same samples suggests that sulfate ions could be present in aqueous solution during akaganeite formation. However, mechanism and aqueous environmental conditions of akaganeite formation (e.g., pH and range of sulfate concentration) in Yellowknife Bay remain unknown. The objective of our work was to perform synthesis of akaganeite without or with sulfate addition at variable pHs in order to constrain formation conditions of akaganeite in Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater on Mars.
Document ID
20160002407
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Peretyazhko, T. S. (Jacobs Technology, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Fox, A. (Indiana Univ. Bloomington, IN, United States)
Sutter, B. (Jacobs Technology, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Niles, P. B. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Adams, M. (Hawaii Univ. Hilo, HI, United States)
Morris, R. V. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Ming, D. W. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)