Sulfate sorption measured by a buffering index over a range of properties of soils from south Western Australia

Sulfate sorption by the soil affects the rate of sulfate leaching, which impacts on the availability of soil sulfate for plant uptake. In Australia, plant-available sulfur is measured using 0.25 M KCl heated for 3 h at 40°C to extract soil sulfur (SKCl40). This paper describes a technique referred to as a sulfate buffering index (SBI), which provides a measurement of sulfate sorption. SBI when combined with the estimates of the q and b parameters of the Freundlich equation, can be used to define a sorption curve. The equation is S = acb – q; where S is the amount of sulfate adsorbed (mg S kg–1), c is the equilibrium concentration of sulfate measured in solution (mg S L–1) and a, b and q are coefficients that describe the soil sulfate sorption curve. Coefficients S and c were measured using six sulfate solution concentrations ranging from 0 to 250 mg S kg–1. The adsorption curve was fitted using the modified Freundlich equation including setting of b = 0.41 and q = SKCl40 using recently collected soil samples. The modified Freundlich a coefficient or SBI was calculated as SBI = (S + SKCl40)/c0.41; where S and c were determined using 50 mg S kg–1 of added sulfate. The SBI ranged within 1–40. The SKCl40 was related to SBI below a depth of 10 cm (r2 = 0.71) but not for the 0–10 cm soil layer where S sorption was minimal.

The Italian Solfatara as an analog for Mars fumarolic alteration

The first definitive evidence for continental vents on Mars is the in situ detection of amorphous silica-rich outcrops by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. These outcrops have been tentatively interpreted as the result of either acid sulfate leaching in fumarolic environments or direct precipitation from hot springs. Such environments represent prime targets for upcoming astrobiology missions but remain difficult to identify with certainty, especially from orbit. To contribute to the identification of fumaroles and hot spring deposits on Mars, we surveyed their characteristics at the analog site of the Solfatara volcanic crater in central Italy. Several techniques of mineral identification (VNIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, XRD) were used both in the field and in the laboratory on selected samples. The faulted crater walls showed evidence of acid leaching and alteration into the advanced argillic-alunitic facies, with colorful deposits containing alunite, jarosite, and/or hematite. Sublimates containing various Al and Fe hydroxyl-sulfates were observed around the active fumarole vents at 90 °C. One vent at 160 °C was characterized by different sublimates enriched in As and Hb sulfide species. Amorphous silica and alunite assemblages that are diagnostic of silicic alteration were also observed at the Fangaia mud pots inside the crater. A wide range of minerals was identified at the 665 m diameter Solfatara crater that is diagnostic of acid-steam heated alteration of a trachytic, porous bedrock. Importantly, this mineral diversity was captured at each site investigated with at least one of the techniques used, which lends confidence for the recognition of similar environments with the next-generation Mars rovers.