Abstract
A high proportion of non-crystalline (X-ray-amorphous) components has
been found in all samples analyzed by CheMin on the Curiosity rover at
Gale crater on Mars, and such X-ray-amorphous components probably occur
at all sites that have been investigated thus far by landers and rovers.
The amorphous material at Gale crater is rich in volatiles (S, Cl, and
H2O), as indicated by other science payload elements (APXS, SAM). We
demonstrate here that amorphization of S and Cl salts can be induced by
energetic electrons and free radicals generated in a medium-strength
electrostatic discharge (ESD) process during martian dust activities
such as dust storms, dust devils, and grain saltation. Furthermore, we
found that the amorphization is commonly accompanied by dehydration of
the salts and oxidation of Cl, S, and Fe species. On the basis of
experimentally observed rates of the above phase transformations and the
mission-observed dust activities and wind speeds on Mars, we anticipate
that similar phase transformations could occur on Mars within a time
frame of years to hundreds of years. Considering the high frequency,
long duration, and large areal coverage of Martian dust activities, our
study suggests that the ESD induced by Martian dust activities may have
contributed to some the S- and Cl-rich portion of X-ray amorphous
materials observed in surface soils at Gale crater. Furthermore, dust
activities in the Amazonian period may have generated and deposited a
significant quantity