Plot showing X-Ray Diffraction patterns for products from Mars chamber electrostatic discharge experiments using hydrated magnesium sulfate salt starting materials.
X-Ray Diffraction patterns for products from Mars chamber electrostatic discharge (ESD) experiments using hydrated magnesium sulfate salt starting materials. Standard patterns of starkeyite, kieserite, and caminite are presented for comparison. The broad humps in two of run product patterns as well as the broader peaks relative to the standard patterns indicate the experiments generated amorphous materials by damaging the salt crystal structures. Credit: Wang et al. [2020], Figure 6
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets

Homogenized by global storms, Martian dust contains an abundant amorphous (poorly crystalline) component, the source of which has been unknown. Wang et al. [2020] investigate a hypothesis that electrostatic discharge (i.e., like lightning or Aurora on Earth) during dust activities amorphize chlorine- and sulfur-bearing salts in dust by disrupting the crystal structure. Dust activities that would generate charged particulates to induce phase changes by electrochemistry include grain saltation, dust devils, and global dust storms.

The authors conducted electrostatic discharge experiments in a Mars chamber and confirmed they produced amorphous materials from hydrated sulfur- and chlorine- bearing salts by Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and Vis-NIR spectroscopy. Other phase changes produced by their experiments involved dehydration (loss of structural water) and oxidation of chlorine, sulfur and iron.  If the prevalent amorphous component in dust is predominantly produced by electrostatic discharge during dust activities, then it must represent a significant, frequent, and ongoing process all over the present-day Mars surface.

Citation: Wang, A., Yan, Y., Dyar, D. M., Houghton, J. L., Farrell, W. M., Jolliff, B. L., et al. [2020]. Amorphization of S, Cl‐Salts induced by Martian dust activities. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 125, e2020JE006701. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JE006701

―Mariek Schmidt, Associate Editor, JGR: Planets

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