Combined vibrational, structural, elemental and Mössbauer spectroscopic analysis of natural phillipsite (zeolite) from historical eruptions in Tenerife, Canary Islands: Implication for Mars

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The outcrop of “Las Arenas” volcano in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain) has been presented as Terrestrial volcanic analog for ancient Mars, showing a great variety of alteration processes and interesting mineralogy. The current analysis has been done by means of measurement techniques used or proposed on Martian studies. The new analysis of the zeolite has been carried out using Raman spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Infrared spectroscopy, Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX). The zeolite has been carefully analyzed using vibrational spectroscopy and it has been identified as Ca-phillipsite. The other techniques support and confirm the results. The measurements and results using the Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) simulator system show the capabilities RLS system in the ESA Exo-Mars mission. The chemometrical methods for the vibrational mineral detection show the advantages of Raman spectroscopy to understand the possible geological context. Furthermore, the proposed diagenesis and formation of the zeolites in southern part of Tenerife island have been confirmed by the twin space prototypes used. A new hypothesis about the origin for the special case of “Las Arenas” volcano Ca-phillipsite has been proposed. Finally, a multi-complementary comparison among the different techniques used on the current studie has been done and, also an analogy with the next space mission has been established. These analyses emphasize the strength of the different techniques and the working synergy of the different techniques together for planetary space missions.