The Dehydration of Serpentines and Extraction of Water

Abstract

Some groups of carbonaceous chondrites are dominated by phyllosilicates, specifically the serpentine group, which are characterized as alternating layers of silicates, metal cations, and hydroxyl (OH). Both antigorite, an Mg-rich member, and cronstedtite, an Fe-rich member, can be found in hydrated carbonaceous chondrites. Cronstedtite is found in substantial amounts in CM chondrites. The hydroxyl can make up to a quarter of the molecular mass, and part of it can turn into molecular water through thermal-induced crystal structure breakup. Understanding how the water is released through thermal effects is important for describing the history of certain near-Earth asteroids, as well as for ascertaining the viability of in situ resource utilization (ISRU) for a given object. Here we investigate the temperature of dehydration of the main serpentine constituents of carbonaceous chondrites—antigorite, lizardite, and cronstedtite—under both atmospheric and vacuum conditions. Our results show that the mass loss for cronstedtite starts at about 150 °C lower temperature than for the Mg serpentines. Additionally, vacuum does not affect significantly the onset of the mass loss, but it affects its dynamics. Finally, our observations suggest that cronstedtite loses additional oxygen molecules besides the ones contained within the hydroxyl. These results provide an important new perspective on the orbital history of certain asteroids and the required proximity to the Sun in order for them to lose water. Additionally, it puts the CM-type asteroids on the center stage for ISRU.