The absorption features result from vibrations of the Fe-O bonds in the oxides.

A figure similar to this figure that also shows the oxide spectral comparison to a spectrum from Mars can be seen in Christensen, P. R., J. L. Bandfield, R. N. Clark, K. S. Edgett, V. E. Hamilton, T. Hoefen, H. H. Kieffer, R. O. Kuzmin, M. D. Lane, M. C. Malin, R. V. Morris, J. C. Pearl, R. Pearson, T. L. Roush, S. W. Ruff, and M. D. Smith, Detection of crystalline hematite mineralization on Mars: Evidence of near-surface water, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 9623-9642.

Go to the Carbonate Page

Go to the Sulfate, Phosphate, Chloride Page

Go back to my Home Page