Incipient Formation Research Articles

Preparation and pipeline transport of CO2 as a hydrate slurry – Modelling and techno-economic analysis

CO2 transportation as a hydrate slurry is modelled in Aspen Plus, including the slurry preparation and the pipeline transport. Due to the lack of built-in models for the hydrate formation, mass and energy balances were developed and implemented using a User-block function. NRTL-RK global property method was used, given the accuracy in predicting the CO2 solubility in water under incipient hydrate formation conditions and the dissolution heat of CO2 in water. The conventional process of transporting CO2 in a supercritical state was also modelled to benchmark the hydrate-based technology. The hydrate-based process is safer than the conventional process as it requires lower operating pressures, but the estimated costs are higher due to the need for refrigeration and larger pipeline diameters for transportation. The addition of thermodynamic promoters, that moderate the hydrate formation conditions, the integration of cold streams with other processes, and valuing the water transported with CO2, will enhance the economic attractiveness of the hydrate-based process.

Unraveling the molecular mechanisms governing axillary meristem initiation in plants.

Axillary meristems (AMs) located in the leaf axils determine the number of shoots or tillers eventually formed, thus contributing significantly to the plant architecture and crop yields. The study of AM initiation is unavoidable and beneficial for crop productivity. Shoot branching is an undoubted determinant of plant architecture and thus greatly impacts crop yield due to the panicle-bearing traits of tillers. The emergence of the AM is essential for the incipient bud formation, and then the bud is dormant or outgrowth immediately to form a branch or tiller. While numerous reviews have focused on plant branching and tillering development networks, fewer specifically address AM initiation and its regulatory mechanisms. This review synthesizes the significant advancements in the genetic and hormonal factors governing AM initiation, with a primary focus on studies conducted in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). In particular, by elaborating on critical genes like LATERAL SUPPRESSOR (LAS), which specifically regulates AM initiation and the networks in which they are involved, we attempt to unify the cascades through which they are positioned. We concentrate on clarifying the precise mutual regulation between shoot apical meristem (SAM) and AM-related factors. Additionally, we examine challenges in elucidating AM formation mechanisms alongside opportunities provided by emerging omics approaches to identify AM-specific genes. By expanding our comprehension of the genetic and hormonal regulation of AM development, we can develop strategies to optimize crop production and address global food challenges effectively.

Noncontact estimation of the onset of ice accretion in turbofan stators

AbstractThe problem of crystal ice formation inside aircraft turbine engines is well‐documented, and poses a significant risk to safety. The problem is not only one of power loss in flight, but the very real possibility that a flame‐out event could occur due to ice accretion on compressor stators, with potentially catastrophic outcomes. Although many instrumentation systems have been developed for wing ice detection, incipient formation of crystal ice is somewhat more difficult to detect. This is compounded by the need for a noncontact sensor which is robust to in‐flight conditions. This paper proposes an approach to the detection of ice formation based on microwave transmission characteristics across the first and possibly the second stage of the compressor stator. It is shown that noncontact detection is feasible under realistic conditions. The contribution of this paper is twofold. First, the microwave transmission approach is motivated using wind tunnel measurements, and appropriate frequency bands are determined. Next, a signal processing approach involving higher‐order analysis of time‐frequency distribution characteristics is then put forward. Experimental results are presented to support the hypothesis that multiband detection offers a workable approach to the incipient crystal‐ice detection problem.

CMZoom. IV. Incipient High-mass Star Formation throughout the Central Molecular Zone

In this work, we constrain the star-forming properties of all possible sites of incipient high-mass star formation in the Milky Way’s Galactic Center. We identify dense structures using the CMZoom 1.3 mm dust continuum catalog of objects with typical radii of ∼0.1 pc, and measure their association with tracers of high-mass star formation. We incorporate compact emission at 8, 21, 24, 25, and 70 μm from the Midcourse Space Experiment, Spitzer, Herschel, and SOFIA, cataloged young stellar objects, and water and methanol masers to characterize each source. We find an incipient star formation rate (SFR) for the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of ∼0.08 M ⊙ yr−1 over the next few 105 yr. We calculate upper and lower limits on the CMZ’s incipient SFR of ∼0.45 and ∼0.05 M ⊙ yr−1,respectively, spanning roughly equal to and several times greater than other estimates of CMZ’s recent SFR. Despite substantial uncertainties, our results suggest the incipient SFR in the CMZ may be higher than previously estimated. We find that the prevalence of star formation tracers does not correlate with source volume density, but instead ≳75% of high-mass star formation is found in regions above a column density ratio (N SMA/N Herschel) of ∼1.5. Finally, we highlight the detection of atoll sources, a reoccurring morphology of cold dust encircling evolved infrared sources, possibly representing H ii regions in the process of destroying their envelopes.

Silicon isotopes in an Archaean migmatite confirm seawater silicification of TTG sources

Unraveling ancient melting processes is key to understanding how the earliest, tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG)-dominated continental crust formed from partial melting of amphibolite. Application of silicon isotope analysis to ancient crust reveals that Archaean TTGs exhibit consistently high Si isotope values (δ30Si) compared to modern granitoids, attributed to seawater-derived silica introduced by either (a) partial melting of variably silicified basalts or (b) assimilation of authigenic silica-rich marine lithologies in the melt source. However, both mechanisms can introduce highly variable δ30Si, conflicting with the strikingly consistent δ30Si compositions of Archaean TTGs. This study investigates an alternative model, whereby the distinct mineralogy and chemistry of TTG melt sources impart a distinct silicon isotope composition to the melt, compared with “modern” granitoids. We measured δ30Si in component parts (melanosome and leucosome) of an Archaean (2.7 Ga) mafic migmatite and coeval amphibolites and mafic granulites from the Kapuskasing uplift, Canada, to explore how Si isotopes fractionate during incipient TTG melt formation. Our data reveal leucosome (i.e., melt) exhibits consistently high δ30Si values compared to a relatively isotopically lighter melanosome (i.e., residuum). We also derive inter-mineral silicon isotope fractionation factors for mineral separates that agree well with those of ab initio estimates for the same minerals and show that the magnitude of equilibrium fractionation between TTG source rock and melt replicates that in Phanerozoic granitoids. We conclude the effects of magmatic differentiation on δ30Si have remained consistent throughout Earth history, meaning that Archaean TTGs must require a source isotopically heavier than unaltered basalt, as reflected by our amphibolites and mafic migmatite components. The consistently heavy δ30Si of seawater through Earth history, and the high SiO2 content of amphibolites relative to coeval leucosome-free granulites in our study area, imply seawater silicification is the source of the observed high δ30Si. Thus, the consistently heavy Si isotope compositions measured in Archaean melt products define a unique aspect of ancient crust formation: that of the silicification of TTG source rock, implying the intrinsic involvement of a primeval hydrosphere.

Electrosynthesis of Quasi-Epitaxial Crystals on Liquid Metals.

Electrosynthesis of single-crystalline metallic and intermetallic particles with a preferred orientation onto liquid metal electrodes has been performed. Liquid gallium electrodes immersed in aqueous alkaline electrolytes without any molecular additive or external solid seeding substrates were used to electroreduce separately Pb2+, Bi3+, Pd2+, and Mn2+. The crystallinity, composition, and orientation of the electrodeposition products were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Electrodeposition of Pb and Bi results in the incipient formation of two-dimensional (2D) nuclei that subsequently direct the growth of Pb and Bi single crystals along the most close-packed [111] and [0001] directions, respectively. The absence of any intervening surface oxides and a low electroreduction flux are necessary to avoid polycrystalline dendrite formation. Under comparable conditions, the electrodeposition of Pd and Mn results in single-crystalline intermetallic particles at the interface. Each crystal exhibits a preferred orientation consistent with the unique atomic packing of the near-surface region of the liquid Ga. The presented study suggests a new concept in electrodeposition processes where the liquid metal structure imparts quasi-epitaxial growth in a system in which the electrode material specifically has no crystallinity or long-range order. This study is thus the first demonstration of highly oriented electrodeposition at a liquid/liquid interface under ambient conditions, highlighting the unique solvation environment of liquid metal interfaces for forming thin metallic and intermetallic films.

The onset of turbulence in decelerating diverging channel flows

This work investigates the stability and transition to turbulence in a diverging channel subjected to a time-varying trapezoidal-shaped inflow boundary condition. Numerical simulations are performed for different deceleration rates and Reynolds numbers while maintaining a constant acceleration rate. The flow transition begins with two-dimensional primary instability with the formation of inflectional velocity profiles, followed by local separation and the emergence of an array of shear layer vortices. We divide simulation cases systematically into three categories based on the onset of secondary instability and the generation of streamwise vorticity. At low and medium Reynolds numbers (type I), the spanwise vortex rolls formed by inflectional instability remain two-dimensional and diffuse at the channel centre without exhibiting further instabilities. At high Reynolds numbers and deceleration rates (type II), the rolled shear layer exhibits secondary instability during the zero mean inflow phase, followed by local incipient turbulent structure formation. The streamwise vorticity that develops over the shear layer structures causes oscillations with a spanwise wavelength similar to those associated with the elliptic instability in a counter-rotating vortex pair. Using the Lamb–Oseen approximation of vortices in conjunction with the dynamic mode decomposition algorithm of the three-dimensional flow field, we captured successfully the characteristics of the secondary instability. The third category (type III) is characterized by periodic unsteady separation, secondary instability, and merging of shear layer vortices, which occurs when Reynolds numbers are high and deceleration rates are low.

Numerical Study on the Genesis of Incipient Vortex of a Tropical Storm over the South China Sea. Part II Sensitivity of Sea Surface Sensible Heating

The experiments are conducted to determine the impact of the anomalous surface sensible heating (SH) from the South China Sea (SCS) on the incipient vortex of the storm Mindulle (2010) formation by using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, including the control-run with and the sensitivity-run without such heating. Significant impact is seen, with the incipient vortex failing to generate without the related SH. Based on the atmospheric thermal adaption theory, the outputs reveal that the genesis of the incipient vortex can be divided into the formation stage and the strengthen stage. At the formation stage, the surface SH favoured the enhancement of the surface convergence. Thus strong westerlies and southerlies along with the topography forcing constrain updrafts over the Luzon Island. The non-uniform condensation latent heating (LH) released by the vertical motion creates the cyclonic vorticity in the lower atmosphere, which was conducive to the incipient vortex formation. At the strengthen stage, the more intense LH due to the enhanced ascending motions mainly contributed to cyclonic vorticity generation. Therefore, the incipient vortex continuously strengthened and attained to the intensity of tropical storm. The simulation results illustrate that the development of the Mindulle (2010) is a “bottom-up” process.

MOVILIZACIONES CAMPESINAS, POLÍTICA PÚBLICA Y TRANSICIONES HACIA LA AGROECOLOGIA EN COLOMBIA, 1990-2018

<p><strong>Background:</strong><strong> </strong>In recent years, especially since the beginning of the Peace Process between the Colombian government and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrillas, an increase in peasant, indigenous and Afro-descendant mobilizations throughout the territory has become visible. national. Within this context, the place that agroecology has begun to occupy as an important element of the different repertoires of popular mobilization deserves to be analyzed. <strong>Objective</strong>: To analyze the nature of the relationship between peasant mobilizations and agroecology in a critical period in the country's history in which rural communities have had to face the economic, environmental and political crisis generated by the agrarian development model. that is imposed within a context of violence to help understand the possibilities that agroecology brings with it in the construction of technical, economic, political and cultural alternatives to the dominant political regime in Colombia. <strong>Hypothesis</strong>: Agroecology is rooted in the environmental, economic and sociocultural logic of traditional Colombian communities, where it reappears today as a practice and a living discourse to maintain and strengthen their historical ways of life. <strong>Methodology</strong>: the study is based on primary, spatial, quantitative and qualitative information that allows identifying the place that the country's peasants have given to agroecology within their discourses in the search for a dignified life, and therefore for a decent agriculture. and a fairer society. <strong>Results</strong>: The incipient formation of a social mobilization in favor of agroecology in Colombia that, in coordination with other actors from the academy, NGOs, and even State institutions, is configured with the purpose of transforming the historical obstacles for the positioning of agroecology in the different territories. <strong>Implications</strong>: The approaches of agroecology offer peasant organizations an ideological and discursive platform that maintains identity with the different types of struggles that peasants must undertake in defense of their territories. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: There is an unprecedented and diverse social process in Colombia in which agroecology begins to position itself on the public agenda hand in hand with a series of public policy proposals that are built through the various peasant mobilizations.</p>

The Incipient Formation of the Internal Dynamics of a Uniformly Moving Polaron in a Polynucleotide Chain Subjected To a Constant Electric Field

The Incipient Formation of the Internal Dynamics of a Uniformly Moving Polaron in a Polynucleotide Chain Subjected To a Constant Electric Field

The Incipient Formation of the Internal Dynamics of a Uniformly Moving Polaron in a Polynucleotide Chain Subjected To a Constant Electric Field

In this paper we consider the incipient formation of the internal dynamics of a uniformly moving polaron in a polynucleotide chain subjected to a constant electric field. The calculations performed show that Bloch oscillations arising in the course of the polaron oscillatory motion along the chain do not completely disappear when the polaron's motion along the chain becomes uniform. When the polaron moves uniformly along the chain, Bloch oscillations are also observed, although in a slightly different form. It is shown that the shape of the electron density distribution in a polaron during its stationary motion in a constant electric field takes an explicit structure. In this case, such characteristics of Bloch oscillations as the period of Bloch oscillations and the maximum Bloch amplitude demonstrate low-density components of the polaron.

Chemorepellent-Loaded Nanocarriers Promote Localized Interference of Escherichia coli Transport to Inhibit Biofilm Formation.

To mitigate antimicrobial resistance, we developed polymeric nanocarrier delivery of the chemorepellent signaling agent, nickel, to interfere with Escherichia coli transport to a surface, an incipient biofilm formation stage. The dynamics of nickel nanocarrier (Ni NC) chemorepellent release and induced chemorepellent response required to effectively modulate bacterial transport for biofilm prevention were characterized in this work. Ni NCs were fabricated with the established Flash NanoPrecipitation method. NC size was characterized with dynamic light scattering. Measured with a zincon monosodium salt colorimetric assay, NC nickel release was pH-dependent, with 62.5% of total encapsulated nickel released at pH 7 within 0-15 min, competitive with rapid E. coli transport to the surface. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of E. coli (GFP-expressing) biofilm growth dynamics on fluorescently labeled Ni NC coated glass coupled with a theoretical dynamical criterion probed the biofilm prevention outcomes of NC design. The Ni NC coating significantly reduced E. coli attachment compared to a soluble nickel coating and reduced E. coli biomass area by 61% compared to uncoated glass. A chemical-in-plug assay revealed Ni NCs induced a chemorepellent response in E. coli. A characteristic E. coli chemorepellent response was observed away from the Ni NC coated glass over 10 μm length scales effective to prevent incipient biofilm surface attachment. The dynamical criterion provided semiquantitative analysis of NC mechanisms to control biofilm and informed optimal chemorepellent release profiles to improve NC biofilm inhibition. This work is fundamental for dynamical informed design of biofilm-inhibiting chemorepellent-loaded NCs promising to mitigate the development of resistance and interfere with the transport of specific pathogens.

Brain Magnet: Research Triangle Park and the Idea of the Idea Economy

Brain Magnet: Research Triangle Park and the Idea of the Idea Economy

Incipient sooting tendency of oxygenated fuels doped in ethylene counterflow diffusion flames

The incipient sooting tendencies of oxygenated fuels in counterflow diffusion flames were systematically assessed by doping selected oxygenate fuels into the baseline fuel of ethylene with various mixing ratios. Laser light scattering and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) techniques were adopted. The critical oxygen mole fractions at different mixing ratios were identified with the use of laser scattering. It is found that the critical oxygen mole fraction varies with oxygenates, suggesting that the effect of mixing ethylene with oxygenates is highly sensitive to the types of oxygenate. While the doping of acetone moderately promoted the incipient sooting tendency, the doping of methanol, acetic acid, formic acid, and diethyl carbonate suppressed the formation of incipient soot. On the other hand, the doping of ethanol, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl ether, and dimethoxymethane had weak influences on the incipient sooting tendency. The production of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of different sizes were measured by PLIF. The results show there was a strong correlation between the incipient sooting tendency and the production of large PAHs. One important finding is that, at their sooting limits, the total oxygen-to-carbon ratio of a stoichiometric fuel/oxygen mixture is linearly correlated with the mixing ratio of the ethylene-oxygenate mixture. This slope of these two quantities can be defined as an incipient sooting index (ISI) of oxygenated fuels for ranking their tendency of incipient sooting formation. Having the slopes correlated well with the oxygenates’ hydrogen/oxygen ratio, a reasonably accurate prediction of critical oxygen mole fractions from the molecule information of oxygenated fuels can be achieved.

Early particle formation and evolution in iron-doped flames

In flame synthesis of nanoparticles, the temperature history experienced by the nascent particle aerosol defines the morphology, composition, and crystallinity of the resulting nanomaterial. Commonly, flame-synthesis processes are modeled with an isothermal approximation assuming that the particle temperature replicates that of the surrounding gas phase, avoiding inclusion of an additional internal coordinate in the population balance model, and thus reducing the computational cost. This simplification neglects the influence of matter- and energy-exchange as well as thermochemistry between the particle and reactive gas phase, impacting the particle temperature. In this work, we investigate the temperature history of the particles in incipient formation stages and their evolution in iron-doped flames, prototypical for many other transition-metal (oxide) synthesis systems. The temperature and relative volume-fraction distributions of early particles forming in H2/O2/Ar flames doped with iron pentacarbonyl were determined for the first time, based on spectrally and spatially resolved flame emission measurements and pyrometric analysis of the continuum emission emanating from the nascent particle aerosol. The nascent particle temperature was found to be several hundred degrees above the gas-phase temperature for all physically reasonable assumptions concerning particle composition and emission efficiency. Early particles volume fraction rises sharply shortly after the decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl and decreases steeply in the flame front, in excellent agreement with previous particle-mass spectrometry/quartz-crystal microbalance measurements. By modeling the evaporation process of isothermal iron particles, we show that vanishing of particles in the flame front cannot be explained by evaporation of particles that are in thermal equilibrium with the gas phase. A single-particle Monte-Carlo simulation based on a simple model comprising Fe-monomer condensation, concurrent with oxidation, reduction, etching, and evaporation occurring at the particle surface, captures both the flame structure with respect to early particle formation and their excess temperature compared to the gas phase.

Transparent magnesium aluminate spinel ceramics obtained by one-step spark plasma reaction sintering of a sol-gel precursor powder

Transparent magnesium aluminate spinel (MAS) was obtained by one-step spark plasma reaction-sintering (SPRS) of a nanosized sol-gel powder. The sol-gel powder was processed to obtain three powders as precursors materials with different characteristics. The first powder (HT0) was the as-synthesized sol-gel powder, comprising poorly crystallized boehmite and residual magnesium nitrate hexahydrate. The second powder (HT450) was obtained by calcination of the sol-gel powder at 450 °C to produce an incipient formation of MAS. The third powder (HT850) was calcined at 850 °C to produce spinel with low crystallinity. The powders were deagglomerated and then consolidated in one step using a spark plasma sintering (SPS) machine at temperatures ranging from 1260 to 1350 °C to suit their different properties. The one-step SPRS was achieved with relative densities up to 99.98 % and submicron-sized grains. However, transparent ceramics were obtained only with the HT450 and HT850 powders. The ceramic produced from the HT450 powder achieved a light transmittance of 71 % at λ = 1100 nm, Vickers hardness (HV) of 11.98 GPa, grain size of 604 nm, and relative density of 99.98 %. The ceramic produced from the HT850 powder consolidated by one-step SPRS at 1275 °C achieved a light transmittance of 71 %, HV of 12.71 GPa, grain size of 396 nm, and relative density (RD) of 99.90 %. The results showed that the HT450 powder had better sinterability, attributed to the higher reactivity of the partially reacted sol-gel particles used as precursors in this sample.

Monitoring and prediction of porosity in laser powder bed fusion using physics-informed meltpool signatures and machine learning

In this work we accomplished the monitoring and prediction of porosity in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing process. This objective was realized by extracting physics-informed meltpool signatures from an in-situ dual-wavelength imaging pyrometer, and subsequently, analyzing these signatures via computationally tractable machine learning approaches. Porosity in LPBF occurs despite extensive optimization of processing conditions due to stochastic causes. Hence, it is essential to continually monitor the process with in-situ sensors for detecting and mitigating incipient pore formation. In this work a tall cuboid-shaped part (10 mm × 10 mm × 137 mm, material ATI 718Plus) was built with controlled porosity by varying laser power and scanning speed. This test caused various types of porosity, such as lack-of-fusion and keyhole formation, with varying degrees of severity in the part. The meltpool was continuously monitored using a dual-wavelength imaging pyrometer installed in the machine. Physically intuitive process signatures, such as meltpool length, temperature distribution, and ejecta (spatter) characteristics, were extracted from the meltpool images. Subsequently, relatively simple machine learning models, e.g., K-Nearest Neighbors, were trained to predict both the severity and type of porosity as a function of these physics-informed meltpool signatures. These models resulted in a prediction accuracy exceeding 95% (statistical F1-score). The same analysis was carried out with a complex, black-box deep learning convolutional neural network which directly used the meltpool images instead of physics-informed features. The convolutional neural network produced a comparable F1-score in the range of 89–97%. These results demonstrate that using pragmatic, physics-informed meltpool signatures within a simple machine learning model is as effective for flaw prediction in LPBF as using a complex and computationally demanding black-box deep learning model. • Prediction of porosity type and severity in LPBF using meltpool signatures acquired from a dual-wavelength imaging pyrometer. • Four physics-informed meltpool signatures were sufficient for porosity prediction using simple machine learning models. • This framework yielded a prediction fidelity > 95% (F1-score). • These results were compared with a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN). • The proposed physics-informed approach was found to be as effective as the computationally intensive black-box CNN.

A Graphene‐Coated Thermal Conductive Separator to Eliminate the Dendrite‐Induced Local Hotspots for Stable Lithium Cycling

AbstractPractical lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are still far from market readiness, as a result of the severe Li degradation and safety issues caused by Li dendrites. Herein, by studying the thermodynamic behavior of lithium deposition, it is unveiled that the tip area of Li metal has an increasing heat generation rate as a function of the deposition time and overpotential. This triggers the emergence of the accumulated overpotential heat and local temperature “hotspots” due to poor local thermal diffusion, which exacerbates the undesirable irregular Li deposition and dendrite growth. To address this issue, a thermally conductive graphene‐coated separator is constructed to eliminate these local hotspots. The graphene layer affords timely diffusion of local heat generated by irregular Li growth and incipient dendrite formation, achieving the stable and uniform lithium deposition to deter further degradation. As a result, the Li metal, suffering a drastic Coulombic efficiency (CE) decay to ≈60% using a conventional separator, can be recovered for continual cycling with a high CE of >95%. Notably, the corresponding Li||LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 cells present high capacity retention and recovery. This study highlights the thermodynamic factor of Li dendrite‐induced local heat and its elimination to preclude Li anode deterioration, which provides insight into Li metal protection strategies for high performance LMBs.

On the micromechanics of void mediated failure in HCP crystals

Three-dimensional voided cell calculations are carried out to investigate the effect of initially flat voids on the effective behavior of hexagonal crystals. The crystalline matrix is described using a set of constitutive relations that account for slip and twinning. In some materials, the limiting case of penny-shaped cracks better represents incipient void formation. Cell boundary conditions are such that internal necking of the intervoid ligament or void impingement are the only possible failure modes. The overall behavior of the cell is analyzed under various stress states and two loading orientations, with special attention given to the evolution of damage-relevant microstructural variables. Particular emphasis is placed on crystallographic aspects of void growth and coalescence, which often prove difficult to represent using phenomenological anisotropic plasticity models.

A mineralogical study of glacial flour from Three Sisters, Oregon: An analog for a cold and icy early Mars

Geomorphic and mineralogical data from the martian surface indicate liquid water was abundant on the martian surface and near subsurface ∼3.5 to 4 Gyr ago, but whether early Mars had a warm and wet climate or whether it was cold and icy with punctuated periods of warmth is still unknown. Mineral assemblages of sedimentary rocks on Mars help determine past aqueous conditions and sediment sources. Here, we report on the primary and secondary mineral and amorphous assemblage of glacial flour from Collier Glacier valley on the northern flank of North Sister in Oregon, U.S.A. to identify mineralogical characteristics of mafic sediments altered under cold, wet conditions. Collier glacial flour is dominated by primary igneous minerals (plagioclase is dominant, with lesser amounts of pyroxene and olivine) and comprises 10-40 wt.% X-ray amorphous materials. Crystalline secondary phases (e.g., phyllosilicates, zeolite) are not significant contributors to the authigenic alteration assemblage. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic observations of the <2 μm size fraction of the flour demonstrate that the X-ray amorphous materials are both primary (i.e., volcanic glass) and secondary in nature. The secondary X-ray amorphous materials are enriched in Si, Al, and Fe, and we observe incipient phyllosilicate formation associated with primary and secondary amorphous materials. Our results indicate chemical weathering on a cold and icy early Mars would have produced X-ray amorphous materials, but not crystalline secondary phases. We suggest that the abundant X-ray amorphous materials recognized from orbit and in situ on Mars could have formed under cold and periodically wet conditions similar to those on North Sister today. Furthermore, the lack of volumetrically significant phyllosilicate formation in Collier Glacier flour indicates phyllosilicates on Mars did not form in a cold and wet climate.