Mossbauer studies of Jarosite, Mikasaite and Yavapaiite, and implication to their Martian counterparts

In order to confirm Mossbauer spectra of Jarosite, unidentified Fe(3+) species (Fe3D3) and Fe(2)O(3) found on Martian surface, some Jarosite specimens produced on Earth were characterized by (57)Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy. For comparison, anhydrous ferric sulfate minerals, Mikasaite (Fe(1.56)(3+)Al(0.44))(SO(4))(3), and Yavapaiite, KFe (SO(4))(2) were also measured. The thermal decomposition products of Jarosite and their hydration products were also traced by scattering Mossbauer spectra (CEMS and XMS). These data are useful for the identification of hydrous and anhydrous ferric sulfate phases on Mars, including Fe3D3.