Salt crystals from Enceladus jets may preserve ocean chemistry clues
Scientists in the United Kingdom studied how salt crystals form on Saturn's moon Enceladus to find samples that could reveal ocean chemistry.
New study identifies natron as target
Researchers at Diamond Light Source examined freezing solutions containing sodium chloride and sodium carbonate. They found that growing natron crystals trap tiny pockets of the surrounding fluid inside their structure. These internal pockets could preserve information about the hidden ocean without needing to drill through the ice.
Larger crystals hold more trapped water
Measurements showed that larger crystals were more likely to contain these preserved fluid pockets. The team used powerful X-rays to create three-dimensional images of the minerals during the freezing process. This method helps identify which surface materials offer the best chance for detecting potential biological traces.
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