On the Subject of Analyzing Iron and Sulfur Bearing Minerals from Three Extreme Environments: Geological Sequestration, Acid Mine Drainage, and Mars

Authors

Elizabeth Christ Sklute

Type

Text

Type

Dissertation

Advisor

Glotch, Timothy | Reeder, Richard | Schoonen, Martin | Rogers, Deanne | Cloutis, Ed.

Date

2014-12-01

Keywords

Amorphous Iron Sulfates, Geologic Carbon Sequestration, Hapke Radiative Transfer, Jarosite Optical Constants, Mars, Matlab | Geochemistry

Department

Department of Geosciences.

Language

en_US

Source

This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree.

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/11401/77666

Publisher

The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.

Format

application/pdf

Abstract

The global iron and sulfur cycles are linked to some of the most ancient metabolisms on our planet, and, therefore, possibly other planetary bodies. They are also linked to some of our most pressing environmental problems on Earth. Understanding their interactions and monitoring their occurrence is, therefore, an important aspect of exploring planetary bodies and sustainable resource management. This dissertation reports investigations into the identification and analysis of iron and sulfur bearing phases in three extreme environments: Acid-gas/CO₂ co-sequestration, acid mine drainage (AMD), and Mars. H₂S and SO₂ (acid gases) are often co-contaminants in CO₂ streams. Co-sequestration of these gases lowers the cost of sequestration, but these sulfur-bearing gases can increase the reactivity of the injection site, particularly if iron-bearing minerals are present. Analyzing iron and sulfur reactivity in these systems is, therefore, crucial to further development of carbon sequestration technology. Experiments examining the simulated co-injection of CO₂, H₂S and/or SO₂ are reported for hematite-bearing and hematite-free sandstones. The iron mineralogy of the sandstones, which is monitored using Mössbauer spectroscopy, is key to the reactivity of the sandstones. Jarosite is an iron sulfate found primarily in areas of AMD, but it has also been identified on Mars. On Earth, using remote sensing to quantify jarosite concentrations could be a time and cost saving measure for AMD detection and cleanup. On Mars, quantifying jarosite may help constrain surface processes responsible for its formation. Quantitative mineral abundance determination using remote sensing requires knowledge of the optical constants of minerals present on the surface. The optical constants of jarosite are determined and the methodology for optical constant determination (Hapke formulation), including an open source computer code, is reported. | The global iron and sulfur cycles are linked to some of the most ancient metabolisms on our planet, and, therefore, possibly other planetary bodies. They are also linked to some of our most pressing environmental problems on Earth. Understanding their interactions and monitoring their occurrence is, therefore, an important aspect of exploring planetary bodies and sustainable resource management. This dissertation reports investigations into the identification and analysis of iron and sulfur bearing phases in three extreme environments: Acid-gas/CO₂ co-sequestration, acid mine drainage (AMD), and Mars. H₂S and SO₂ (acid gases) are often co-contaminants in CO₂ streams. Co-sequestration of these gases lowers the cost of sequestration, but these sulfur-bearing gases can increase the reactivity of the injection site, particularly if iron-bearing minerals are present. Analyzing iron and sulfur reactivity in these systems is, therefore, crucial to further development of carbon sequestration technology. Experiments examining the simulated co-injection of CO₂, H₂S and/or SO₂ are reported for hematite-bearing and hematite-free sandstones. The iron mineralogy of the sandstones, which is monitored using Mössbauer spectroscopy, is key to the reactivity of the sandstones. Jarosite is an iron sulfate found primarily in areas of AMD, but it has also been identified on Mars. On Earth, using remote sensing to quantify jarosite concentrations could be a time and cost saving measure for AMD detection and cleanup. On Mars, quantifying jarosite may help constrain surface processes responsible for its formation. Quantitative mineral abundance determination using remote sensing requires knowledge of the optical constants of minerals present on the surface. The optical constants of jarosite are determined and the methodology for optical constant determination (Hapke formulation), including an open source computer code, is reported. | 433 pages

Recommended Citation

Sklute, Elizabeth Christ, "On the Subject of Analyzing Iron and Sulfur Bearing Minerals from Three Extreme Environments: Geological Sequestration, Acid Mine Drainage, and Mars" (2014). Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions). 3458.
https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/stony-brook-theses-and-dissertations-collection/3458