SO_2-rock interaction on Io: Reaction under highly oxidizing conditions

Abstract

Laboratory simulations have been carried out to test the possibility that interactions of SO_2 and silicates can produce Na-S compounds which can account for the observed surface enrichment of Na relative to Si on Io. A wide variety of silicate compositions were heated under oxidizing conditions with a SO_2/O_2 = 1 gas phase at a mid-level crustal temperature for Io (1123K). All experiments produced sulfate deposits on the silicate surfaces. The nature of the sulfate changed systematically with the silicate Ca/Na ratio, with mixtures of CaSO_4 and Na-rich sulfate formed by basaltic compositions having higher Ca/Na but only alkali-rich sulfates formed for more granitic (low Ca/Na) compositions. For crystalline albite and an albite-orthoclase eutectic glass composition, K and Al-rich sulfates were formed. Assuming that burial of SO_2 to the temperatures of our experiments is plausible on Io and that somewhat less oxidizing conditions do not qualitatively change the results, SO_2-rock interactions producing Na-rich sulfates could account for the Io surface enrichment in Na. Observations on minor elements, such as K or Ca, in the atomic cloud or in magnetospheric ion spectra could be used to identify sulfates as Io surface phases and, conceivably, even define Ionian crustal magma types. Many analyses show significant S excesses which are best interpreted as due to the presence of bisulfate (HSO_4.) components, and NaHSO_4 deserves consideration as an Io surface mineral. The possibility of elemental S on Io can be regarded as a totally separate issue from the problem of the surface Na enrichment.

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