Cassini Finds Five Salt Types in Enceladus Ice Grains

Analysis of 961 salt-rich ice grains collected by Cassini's Cosmic Dust Analyzer shows Enceladus' ocean spray freezes into at least five distinct chemical subtypes, dominated by sodium chloride, carbonate, phosphate, hydroxide or potassium salts. Lab experiments suggest large droplets freeze slowly beneath the surface, segregating minerals before shattering into the grains detected in Saturn's E ring.