JOVIAN SYSTEM DATA ANALYSIS PROGRAM PROPOSAL SUMMARY

Experimental studies will be conducted directed with the aim of identifying the mineralogy and chemistry of surface components of Europa and Io. In the case of Europa high temperature leaching of meteorites will simulate derivation of brines during differentiation and later hydrothermal alteration. Brines will be subjected to stages of fractional crystallization of H2O ice, and brines, ices and precipitates will all be analyzed chemically and mineralogically. Resulting spectra of precipitates will be compared with NIMS spectra from the nominal mission. This will enable determination of the genesis of the components and the relationship to the morphology in trailing side terrain, mottled terrain and linea. On Io initial component analysis will be done using 12 filters (Voyager plus the nominal mission) in the main spectrally active wavelength range. Cluster analysis will be performed. However, the primary approach will be studies of allotropic transitions of S with respect to their temperatures, kinetics and reversibility using a Pyris Differential Scanning Calorimeter. Products will be analyzed spectrally. Analysis will include reproduction of each transition product keyed in temperature to the endotherms observed in the calorimetry, but performed on larger samples in a thermovac environmental chamber with a visible and infrared spectrometer. In the analysis of end member components on Io, provision will also be made for various forms of SO2 and the possible presence of Na2S, K2S and other components, although unambiguous identification of some, such as pyroxene, must await GEM high spatial resolution data from NIMS. Analytical techniques employed in the task will include infrared spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, X-Ray diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy, Atomic Absorption and Ion Chromotography.