Abstract
The value of the sorbtional specific surface of the martian soil (from CO2 evolution in GEX (gas exchange experiments) of Viking craft) is more than an order of magnitude greater than the value of its geometrical specific surface (from granulometry). An hypothesis is therefore proposed here to explain the microporous structure of the soil grains. Absence of O2 and CO2 in GCMS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) (heating up to 500 °C) gives some indication of the closeness of the pores. The origin of such soil structure and the filling of pores with CO2 and O2 due to the effects of various forms of radiation are discussed. The similarity between kinetics in LR (labelled release) and GEX as well as their correspondence with the filtration curve for water vapour migrating through the soil sample suggest that both the formation and the diffusion of the gases are rapid processes. Displacement desorption by water vapour by simultaneous opening of the pores due to the Rebinder effect, is suggested as the natural mechanism for outgassing in the GEX and LR ‘Viking’ experiments.
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Nussinov, M., Chernyak, Y. & Ettinger, J. Model of the fine-grain component of martian soil based on Viking lander data. Nature 274, 859–861 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274859a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/274859a0
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