Published May 20, 2026 | Version 1
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Formation of melanterite from marcasite: Insights into Martian transient wet conditions

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon University of Kerala
  • 2. ROR icon Okayama University
  • 3. ROR icon Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
  • 4. University College,Thiruvananthapuram
  • 5. ROR icon Michigan Technological University
  • 6. ROR icon National Centre for Earth Science Studies

Description

This study reports the first occurrence of melanterite in Peninsular India, formed within 23 days via the atmospheric oxidative weathering of marcasite from Neyveli, Tamil Nadu. The mineral was rigorously verified using XRD, SEM-EDS, EPMA, FTIR, Raman, and hyperspectral analysis. Utilizing these laboratory spectral baselines, a matching mineral signature was identified via CRISM orbital data in the Ceti Mensa region of Mars. Because melanterite requires specific acidic, oxidizing, and highly humid pathways to form, its rapid development provides a crucial mineralogical proxy for interpreting short-lived, transient liquid water conditions on ancient Mars.

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