Thermal transformations of akaganéite and lepidocrocite to hematite: Assessment of possible precursors to Martian crystalline hematite

We examine the possibility that crystalline hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) deposits on Mars were derived from the precursor iron oxyhydroxide minerals akaganéite (β-FeOOH) or lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) and compare them to an earlier study of goethite (α-FeOOH) and magnetite (Fe₃ O₄) precursors. Both the mid-infrared and visible/near infrared spectra of hematite are dependent upon the hematite precursor mineral and the temperature of transformation. Laboratory spectra are compared to spectra from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (MGS-TES) and the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity Mini-TES and Pancam experiments, allowing us to infer the formation environment of Martian crystalline hematite deposits. Akaganéite and lepidocrocite readily transform to hematite at temperatures of 300 and 500°C, respectively. The visible/near-infrared and mid-infrared spectra of akaganéite-derived hematite are poor matches to data returned from TES, Mini-TES, and Pancam. The spectra of lepidocrocite-derived hematite are slightly better fits, but previously published spectra of goethite-derived hematite still represent the best match to MGS and MER spectral data. The experiments demonstrate that hematite precursor mineralogy, temperature of formation, and crystal shape exert a strong control on the hematite spectra.