Insights on Structure and Threshold Detection Limits of Stichtite (Magnesium-Chromium Carbonate-Hydroxide) by Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis

Spectral features for natural stichtite at 1042, 1096, 1360, 1638, and 3482 cm−1 provide insights on mineral structure, with peaks consistent with OH− stretching modes bound to Mg or Cr, CO32− antisymmetric stretches and CO32− bound within the sample and molecular water. These Infrared (IR) data suggest natural stichtite forms at a pH of >12 with increased water and decreased carbonate in the interlayer due to a smaller interlayer distance and unit cell. Higher pH favors lower divalent cation purity and may explain observed ranges of non-end member compositions in stichtite from localities around the world, and across geologic time. This constrains stichtite formation to a range of very high pH conditions and is consistent with active serpentinizing fluid vents and some mine wastes. IR has clear application for the detection and quantification of stichtite under field and laboratory conditions within the detection limits of 5% stichtite within a serpentine host. The size and grade of terrestrial stichtite deposits, and resolution of remote sensing instruments, suggest remote IR detection of stichtite is possible, and remote IR detection for Earth and Mars is discussed.