Engineering topics

Fisher, Duncan S.

Publications and source records attributed to Fisher, Duncan S..

6 records

NASA NTRS1993

Rates of oxidative weathering on the surface of Mars

A model of acid weathering is proposed for the iron-rich basalts on Mars. Aqueous oxidation of iron sulfides released SO4(2-) and H(+) ions that initiated the dissolution of basaltic ferromagnesian silicates and released Fe(2+) ions. The Fe(2+) ions eventually underwent ferrolysis reactions and produced insoluble hydrous ferric oxide phases. Measurements of the time-dependence of acid weathering reactions show that pyrrhotite is rapidly converted to pyrite plus dissolved ferrous iron, the rate of pyrite formation decreasing with rising pH and lower temperatures. On Mars, oxidation rates of dissolved Fe(2+) ions in equatorial melt-waters in contact with the atmosphere are estimated to lie in the range 0.3-3.0 ppb Fe/yr over the pH range 2 to 6. Oxidation of Fe(2+) ions is estimated to be extremely slow in brine eutectic solutions that might be present on Mars and to be negligible in the frozen regolith.

Burns, Roger G.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Cronstedtite and iron sulfide mineralogy of CM-type carbonaceous chondrites from cryogenic Moessbauer spectra

Determinations of oxidation states and the crystal chemistry of iron-bearing minerals in CM meteorites by Moessbauer spectroscopy are complicated by thermally-induced electron hopping in cronstedtite and by ill-defined contributions from the hydrous iron sulphide phase believed to be tochilinite. Moessbauer spectral measurements at 30 K of several cronstedtite and tochilinite specimens have enabled modal proportions of these minerals, as well as Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) ratios, to be determined quantitatively for a suite of CM-type carbonaceous chondrites that included Murchison, Murray, Cold Bokkeveld, ALH 83100, and LEW 90500.

Fisher, Duncan S.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Pre-terrestrial oxidation products in carbonaceous meteorites identified by Mossbauer spectroscopy

The occurrence of ferric bearing assemblages, comprising phyllosilicates, oxide hydroxides and magnetite, in carbonaceous chondrites (CC) indicates that these meteorites underwent pre-terrestrial, sub-aqueous oxidation reactions. Reported here are results of a Mossbauer spectral study of a suite of CC demonstrating that a variety of ferrous and ferric bearing phases may be distinguished in different classes of this meteorite type.

Burns, Roger G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Evolution of sulfide mineralization on Mars

It has been previously suggested, on the basis of compositional and petrographic similarities noted between komatites, SNC meteorites, and the silicate portion of the Martian regolith fines, that iron-sulfide ore deposites may exist on Mars. This paper examines the possible locations of Archean-type sulfide and related ore deposits on Mars, their evolution, and the emplacement mechanisms for the ore deposit. The clues to these questions are deduced by applying to Mars the temporal patterns of ore distribution on earth and the experimental observations on sulfur solubility in basaltic melts.

Burns, Roger G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Iron-sulfur mineralogy of Mars - Magmatic evolution and chemical weathering products

Models are developed for the magmatic evolution and the oxidative weathering of sulfide minerals on Mars, based on petrogenetic associations among komatiitic rock types, Viking geochemical data, SNC meteorites, and terrestrial Fi-Ni deposits. The weathering model was tested by exposing komatiitic pyrrhotites and olivines to sulfuric acid solutions, with or without dissolved ferric iron, and identifying the reaction products by Moessbauer spectroscopy. The results suggest that, on Mars, acidic groundwater has induced oxidative weathering of pyrrhotite, yielding FeS2 and then FeOOH.

Burns, Roger G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Weathering of sulfides on Mars

Pyrrhotite-pentlandite assemblages in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks may have contributed significantly to the chemical weathering reactions that produce degradation products in the Martian regolith. By analogy and terrestrial processes, a model is proposed whereby supergene alteration of these primary Fe-Ni sulfides on Mars has generated secondary sulfides (e.g., pyrite) below the water table and produced acidic groundwater containing high concentrations of dissolved Fe, Ni, and sulfate ions. The low pH solutions also initiated weathering reactions of igneous feldspars and ferromagnesian silicates to form clay silicate and ferric oxyhydroxide phases. Near-surface oxidation and hydrolysis of ferric sulfato-and hydroxo-complex ions and sols formed gossan above the water table consisting of poorly crystalline hydrated ferric sulfates (e.g., jarosite), oxides (ferrihydrite, goethite), and silica (opal). Underlying groundwater, now permafrost contains hydroxo sulfato complexes of Fe, Al, Mg, Ni, which may be stabilized in frozen acidic solutions beneath the surface of Mars. Sublimation of permafrost may replenish colloidal ferric oxides, sulfates, and phyllosilicates during dust storms on Mars.

Burns, Roger G.↗