A high proportion of noncrystalline (X‐ray‐amorphous) components has been found in all samples analyzed by CheMin on the Curiosity rover at Gale crater on Mars, and such X‐ray‐amorphous components probably occur at all sites that have been investigated thus far by landers and rovers. The amorphous material at Gale crater is rich in volatiles (S, Cl, and H₂O), as indicated by other science payload elements (APXS, SAM). We demonstrate here that amorphization of S and Cl salts can be induced by energetic electrons and free radicals generated in a medium‐strength electrostatic discharge (ESD) process during Martian dust activities such as dust storms, dust devils, and grain saltation. Furthermore, we found that the amorphization is commonly accompanied by dehydration of the salts and oxidation of Cl, S, and Fe species. On the basis of experimentally observed rates of the above phase transformations and the mission‐observed dust activities and wind speeds on Mars, we anticipate that similar phase transformations could occur on Mars within a time frame of years to hundreds of years. Considering the high frequency, long duration, and large areal coverage of Martian dust activities, our study suggests that the ESD induced by Martian dust activities may have contributed to some the S‐ and Cl‐rich portion of X‐ray amorphous materials observed in surface soils at Gale crater. Furthermore, dust activities in the Amazonian period may have generated and deposited a significant quantity of S‐ and Cl‐rich amorphous materials all over Mars.

中文翻译：

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火星尘埃活动引起的S，Cl-盐的非晶化

CheMin在火星上Gale火山口的好奇号流动站上进行的化学分析中发现的所有样品中，都有很高比例的非晶态（X射线无定形）成分，这种X射线无定形成分很可能出现在所有对此进行了调查的地点。受到着陆器和漫游者的影响。大风火山口的无定形物质富含挥发物（S，Cl和H ₂O），如其他科学有效载荷元素（APXS，SAM）所示。我们在此证明，在火星尘埃活动（如沙尘暴，粉尘恶魔和谷物盐分化）过程中，中等强度静电放电（ESD）过程中产生的高能电子和自由基可以诱导S和Cl盐的非晶化。此外，我们发现非晶化通常伴随着盐的脱水以及Cl，S和Fe物种的氧化。根据实验观察到的上述相变速率以及任务观察到的火星尘埃活动和风速，我们预计类似的相变可能会在几年到几百年的时间内发生。考虑到火星尘埃活动的频率高，持续时间长且覆盖面大，我们的研究表明，火星尘埃活动引起的ESD可能有助于在大风火山口表层土壤中观察到的X射线无定形物质中富含S和Cl的部分。此外，亚马逊时期的尘埃活动可能在整个火星上产生并沉积了大量的富含S和Cl的非晶态材料。