The sulfur vapor pressure over pyrite on the surface of Venus

The total pressure and molecular speciation of sulfur vapor (dominantly S2) over pyrite at Venus surface temperatures (≈ 390–470°C) are important for modeling atmospheric chemistry and geochemistry of sulfur gases and minerals on Venus. The sulfur vapor pressure over pyrite in CO2 and CO2 gas mixtures, which are relevant to Venus, has not been previously measured. Instead, previous measurements were generally done in closed systems, such as sealed, evacuated silica tubes. We measured the sulfur vapor pressure over pyrite in an open system where carrier gas is flowing through a gas mixing furnace, from 441 to 591°C in He, N2, CO2, and CO2SO2CO mixtures using a standard technique, the transpiration method (Merton, U. and Bell, W. E. (1967) The transpiration method. In The Characterization of High Temperature Vapors, ed. J. W. Margrave, pp. 91–114. Wiley, New York). The data show that the sulfur vapor pressure over pyrite is the same in inert gas and in CO2-bearing gases. Our data also agree with literature vapor pressure data. Thermodynamic calculations show that the laboratory vapor pressure data are also valid at Venus surface pressures (≈ 50–100 bar). Finally, we present recommended values for the sulfur vapor pressure and calculate the molecular speciation of sulfur vapor over pyrite at Venus surface temperatures.