Effects of hydrogen on the phase relations in Fe--FeS at pressures of
Mars-sized bodies
Abstract
Hydrogen (H) and sulfur (S) are light element candidates to enter the
core of planetary bodies. Although Fe-S and Fe-H systems have been
studied individually, the Fe-S-H ternary system has only been
investigated up to 16 GPa and 1723 K. We have investigated the Fe-S-H
system at pressures and temperatures (P-T) relevant to the cores of
Mars-sized planets (up to 45 GPa and well above the melting temperature
of FeS) in the laser-heated diamond anvil cell combined with in situ
synchrotron X-ray diffraction. We found that at high P-T, Fe3S is
unstable if H exists in the system. Instead, separate Fe–H and Fe–S
phases appear at 23–35 GPa. At pressures above 35 GPa, we found a new
phase appearing while Fe–S phases disappear and Fe–H phases remain.
Our analysis indicates that the new phase likely contains both S and H
in the crystal structure (tentatively FeSH). The observed pressure
dependent changes in the phase relation may be important for
understanding the structure and dynamics of the Martian core and the
cores of Mars-sized exoplanets.