Relationships between unit-cell parameters and composition for rock-forming minerals on Earth, Mars, and other extraterrestrial bodies
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Authors
Morrison, S.M.
Down, R. T.
Blake, D. F.
Prabhu, Anirudh
Eleish, Ahmed
Vaniman, D. T.
Ming, D. W.
Rampe, E. B.
Hazen, Robert
Achilles, C. N.
Issue Date
2018-05-28
Type
Article
Language
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Abstract
Mathematical relationships between unit-cell parameters and chemical composition were developed for selected mineral phases observed with the CheMin X-ray diffractometer onboard the Curiosity rover in Gale crater. This study presents algorithms for estimating the chemical composition of phases based solely on X-ray diffraction data. The mineral systems include plagioclase, alkali feldspar, Mg-Fe-Ca C2/c clinopyroxene, Mg-Fe-Ca P21/c clinopyroxene, Mg-Fe-Ca orthopyroxene, Mg-Fe olivine, magnetite, and other selected spinel oxides, and alunite-jarosite. These methods assume compositions of Na-Ca for plagioclase, K-Na for alkali feldspar, Mg-Fe-Ca for pyroxene, and Mg-Fe for olivine; however, some other minor elements may occur and their impact on measured unit-cell parameters is discussed. These crystal-chemical algorithms can be applied to material of any origin, whether that origin is Earth, Mars, an extraterrestrial body, or a laboratory.
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Full Citation
Morrison SM, Downs RT, Blake DF, Prabhu A, Eleish A, Vaniman DT, Ming DW, Rampe EB, Hazen RM, Achilles CN, Treiman AH, Yen AS, Morris RV, Bristow TF, Chipera SJ, Sarrazin PC, Fendrich KV,Morookian JM, Farmer JD, Des Marais DJ, and Craig PI (2018) Relationships between unit-cell parameters and composition for rock-forming minerals on Earth, Mars, and other extraterrestrial bodies. American Mineralogist. DOI: 10.2138/am-2018-6123.
Publisher
De Gruyter