scholarly journals A New Constraint on the Physicochemical Condition of Mars Surface during the Amazonian Epoch Based on Chemical Speciation for Secondary Minerals in Martian Nakhlites

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 514
Author(s):  
Hiroki Suga ◽  
Keika Suzuki ◽  
Tomohiro Usui ◽  
Akira Yamaguchi ◽  
Oki Sekizawa ◽  
...  

Iddingsite in Martian nakhlites contains various secondary minerals that reflect water–rock interaction on Mars. However, the formation processes of secondary Fe minerals in iddingsite are unclear because they include carbonates precipitated under reductive and alkaline conditions and sulfates that are generally precipitated under oxidative and acidic conditions. Mineral types cannot coexist under equilibrium. Herein, we characterize the carbonate phase of meteorite Yamato 000593 as siderite and Mn-bearing siderite via field-emission electron probe microanalyzer (FE-EPMA). Then, we examined the distribution and speciation of trace Cr and S within the carbonates through synchrotron micro-focused X-ray fluorescence-X-ray absorption fine structure and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (μ-XRF-XAFS/STXM) analysis to estimate the transition history of Eh-pH conditions during siderite formation to explain the coexistence of carbonate and sulfate phases in the nakhlite vein. Specifically, the distribution and speciation of S in the mesostasis and carbonate phases and the heterogeneous distribution of Mn-FeCO3 incorporating Cr(III) in the carbonate constrain the Eh-pH condition. The conditions and transition of the fluid chemistry determined herein based on speciation of various elements provide a new constraint on the physicochemical condition of the water that altered the nakhlite body during the Amazonian epoch.

Author(s):  
H. Ade ◽  
B. Hsiao ◽  
G. Mitchell ◽  
E. Rightor ◽  
A. P. Smith ◽  
...  

We have used the Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscope at beamline X1A (X1-STXM) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to acquire high resolution, chemical and orientation sensitive images of polymeric samples as well as point spectra from 0.1 μm areas. This sensitivity is achieved by exploiting the X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) of the carbon K edge. One of the most illustrative example of the chemical sensitivity achievable is provided by images of a polycarbonate/pol(ethylene terephthalate) (70/30 PC/PET) blend. Contrast reversal at high overall contrast is observed between images acquired at 285.36 and 285.69 eV (Fig. 1). Contrast in these images is achieved by exploring subtle differences between resonances associated with the π bonds (sp hybridization) of the aromatic groups of each polymer. PET has a split peak associated with these aromatic groups, due to the proximity of its carbonyl groups to its aromatic rings, whereas PC has only a single peak.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (21) ◽  
pp. 7122-7129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Jui Chang ◽  
You-Chiuan Chu ◽  
Hao-Yu Yan ◽  
Yen-Fa Liao ◽  
Hao Ming Chen

The state-of-art RuO2 catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is measured by using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to elucidate the structural transformation during catalyzing the reaction in acidic and alkaline conditions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Debrie ◽  
Dimitri Prêt ◽  
Karim Benzerara ◽  
Jean Paul Saint Martin

<p>Stromatolites, i.e. macroscopically laminated carbonate rocks formed by diverse microbial communities, are particularly emblematic geobiological materials since they are the oldest evidence of life-mineral interactions, dated up to 3.5 Gyrs ago.  They are found throughout the history of the Earth and have received strong attention because they provide precious information about microbial paleobiodiversity and paleoenvironments. However, while this information is interpreted based on our knowledge about modern analogs, the latter remains very incomplete. Here, we studied recently discovered modern stromatolites from Mari Ermi<sup>1</sup>, a coastal pond in Western Sardinia, that seasonally experience severe evaporation and broad salinity variations. For this purpose, we explored the mineralogical composition of these unique sedimentary archives and its spatial variations in order to gain better insight into how mineral phases record the conditions and processes of their formation. We investigated the heterogeneous distribution of minerals using quantitative X-ray chemical maps provided by energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry analyses coupled with scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDXS). Hyperspectral maps were analyzed using an innovative data treatment method <sup>2</sup> allowing phase recognition within the complex mineral mixtures and solid solutions encountered. This method provided quantitative data on spatial distribution, modal content and associated calculated unit formulas for each identified mineral and phase with a hundred nanometer resolution. Based on these results, we will discuss the origin of the laminations in the stromatolites.</p><p>Reference:</p><p>1. Saint Martin, J.-P. & Saint Martin, S. Geo-Eco-Marina <strong>21</strong>, 35–53 (2015a).</p><p>2. Prêt, D. et al. American Mineralogist <strong>95</strong>, 1379–1388 (2010).</p>


2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 1300-1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandy Toner ◽  
Sirine Fakra ◽  
Mario Villalobos ◽  
Tony Warwick ◽  
Garrison Sposito

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas putida strain MnB1, a biofilm-forming bacterial culture, was used as a model for the study of bacterial Mn oxidation in freshwater and soil environments. The oxidation of aqueous Mn+2 [Mn+2 (aq)] by P. putida was characterized by spatially and temporally resolving the oxidation state of Mn in the presence of a bacterial biofilm, using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) combined with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy at the Mn L2,3 absorption edges. Subsamples were collected from growth flasks containing 0.1 and 1 mM total Mn at 16, 24, 36, and 48 h after inoculation. Immediately after collection, the unprocessed hydrated subsamples were imaged at a 40-nm resolution. Manganese NEXAFS spectra were extracted from X-ray energy sequences of STXM images (stacks) and fit with linear combinations of well-characterized reference spectra to obtain quantitative relative abundances of Mn(II), Mn(III), and Mn(IV). Careful consideration was given to uncertainty in the normalization of the reference spectra, choice of reference compounds, and chemical changes due to radiation damage. The STXM results confirm that Mn+2 (aq) was removed from solution by P. putida and was concentrated as Mn(III) and Mn(IV) immediately adjacent to the bacterial cells. The Mn precipitates were completely enveloped by bacterial biofilm material. The distribution of Mn oxidation states was spatially heterogeneous within and between the clusters of bacterial cells. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy is a promising tool for advancing the study of hydrated interfaces between minerals and bacteria, particularly in cases where the structure of bacterial biofilms needs to be maintained.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Bondy ◽  
Daniel Bonanno ◽  
Ryan C. Moffet ◽  
Bingbing Wang ◽  
Alexander Laskin ◽  
...  

Abstract. Aerosols in the atmosphere are chemically complex with thousands or more chemical species distributed in different proportions across individual particles in an aerosol population. An internal mixing assumption, with species present in the same proportions across all aerosols, is used in many models and calculations of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, cloud activation, and aerosol optical properties. However, many of these effects depend on the distribution of species within individual particles, and important information can be lost when internal mixtures are assumed. Herein, we show that during the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) in Centreville, Alabama, at a rural, forested location, that aerosols frequently are not purely internally mixed, even in the accumulation mode (0.2–1.0 µm). A range of aerosol sources and mixing states were obtained using computer controlled scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (CCSEM-EDX) and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy-near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS). Particles that were dominated by SOA and inorganic salts were the majority of particles by number fraction from 0.2–5 microns with an average of 78 % SOA in the accumulation mode. However, during certain periods contributions by sea spray aerosol (SSA) and mineral dust were significant to accumulation (22 % SSA and 26 % dust) and coarse mode number concentrations (38 % SSA and 63 % dust). The fraction of particles containing key elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, and Fe) were determined as a function of size for specific classes of particles. Within internally mixed SOA/sulfate particles


1990 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig L. Sarazin

AbstractX-ray line observations of clusters of galaxies have shown that the X-ray emission in clusters is mainly thermal emission from hot diffuse gas, and that much of this gas has come out of stars, probably having been ejected from galaxies in the cluster. Future high resolution observations should allow us to determine the physical state of the gas. X-ray line measurements and abundance determinations can lead to strong constraints on the origin of the intracluster gas, and on the chemical evolution and history of galaxies. Some of the stronger resonant X-ray lines may be observable as absorption lines against a background quasar. Such X-ray absorption line measurement can be used to directly derive distances to clusters, using a technique similar to (and possibly complementary to) that the well-known method using the Zel’dovich-Syunyaev effect.


2005 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam P. Hitchcock ◽  
Harald D. H. Stöver ◽  
Lisa M. Croll ◽  
Ronald F. Childs

Recently, synchrotron-based soft X-ray spectromicroscopy techniques have been applied to studies of polymer microstructure at the ~50 nm spatial scale. Functional group based chemical speciation and quantitative mapping is provided by near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectral (NEXAFS) contrast. The techniques, sample data, and analysis methods of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM) are outlined. The capabilities of STXM are illustrated by results from recent studies of (a) controlled release microcapsules and microspheres, (b) microcapsules being developed for gene therapy applications, (c) conducting polymer films studied in the presence of electrolyte and under potential control, and (d) studies of protein interactions with patterned polymer surfaces. In the latter area, the capabilities of STXM and X-PEEM are compared directly.


Author(s):  
Camille Rivard ◽  
Benedicte Bakan ◽  
Claire Boulogne ◽  
Khalil Elmorjani ◽  
Sufal Swaraj ◽  
...  

The main storage components of the maize endosperm are starch, proteins and lipids. Starch and proteins are heterogeneously deposited, leading to the formation of vitreous and floury regions at the periphery and at the centre of the endosperm. The vitreous/floury mass ratio is a key physical parameter of maize end-uses for the food, feed and non-food sectors, as well as for the resistance of seeds to environmental aggressions. To improve maize breeding for vitreousness, one of the main issues is to finely delineate the molecular and physicochemical mechanisms associated with the formation of endosperm texture. In this context, we use scanning transmission X-ray microscopy at the C K-edge on maize endosperm resin-embedded ultrathin sections. The combination of local near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and high-resolution images enable us to achieve a quantitative fine description of the spatial distribution of the main components within the endosperm.


2003 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 803-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Winesett ◽  
H. Ade ◽  
A. P. Smith ◽  
S. G. Urquhart ◽  
A. J. Dias ◽  
...  

Abstract Materials of commercial significance in the rubber industry are usually multi-component systems composed of several elastomers and various fillers. Elucidating the complex morphology that can arise from blending and understanding how this affects the various properties are essential. A technique advantageous to the study of multi-component elastomeric systems is Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM). STXM utilizes the chemical sensitivity of Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) and combines with relatively high spatial resolution and low beam damage to allow the successful characterization of multi-component materials that may be difficult or impossible with other techniques. An overview of the technique and example applications for the rubber industry is presented.


Author(s):  
C. E. Lyman

Formation of 2-dimensional dot maps of x-ray intensity from various elements in a flat polished section was an early application of the scanning beam electron probe microanalyzer. The spatial resolution of those early maps was the same as the microprobe itself, about lpm. These maps were usually scanned in an analogue fashion, and there was generally enough x-ray signal to produce maps with good peak-to-background ratios. For analysis of individual catalyst particles, a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) must be used to obtain the required spatial resolution. However, the x-ray signal level is usually low and is collected with an energy-dispersive spectrometer which has a lower peak-to-background ratio than the wavelength-dispersive spectrometer used in the microprobe. To produce suitable high magnification x-ray maps of catalyst particles digital beam techniques were employed.


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