A5085961701- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Mineral Processing and Grinding
- Drilling and Well Engineering
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analyses
- Mineralogy and Gemology Studies
- Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Remote-Sensing Image Classification
- Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
- Earthquake Detection and Analysis
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
California Institute of Technology
2015-2024
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
2015-2016
Brown University
2012-2016
University of Winnipeg
2015
John Brown University
2014
Washington University in St. Louis
2010
Planetary Science Institute
2008
Light‐toned soils were exposed, through serendipitous excavations by Spirit Rover wheels, at eight locations in the Columbia Hills. Their occurrences grouped into four types on basis of geomorphic settings. At three major exposures, light‐toned are hydrous and sulfate‐rich. The spatial distributions distinct salty vary substantially: with centimeter‐scaled heterogeneities Paso Robles, Dead Sea, Shredded, Champagne‐Penny, a well‐mixed nature for occurring near summit Husband Hill, relatively...
This paper summarizes Spirit Rover operations in the Columbia Hills, Gusev crater, from sol 1410 (start of third winter campaign) to 2169 (when extrication attempts Troy stopped winterize vehicle) and provides an overview key scientific results. The campaign took advantage parking on northern slope Home Plate tilt vehicle track sun thus survive season. With onset spring season, began circumnavigating way volcanic constructs located south. Silica‐rich nodular rocks were discovered valley...
The Mars Phoenix Lander was equipped with a 2.4 m Robotic Arm (RA) an Icy Soil Acquisition Device capable of excavating trenches in soil deposits, grooming hard icy surfaces scraper blade, and acquiring samples using rasp tool. A camera imaging the scoop interior thermal electrical conductivity probe were also included on RA. dozen trench complexes excavated at northern plains landing site 31 (including water‐ice‐bearing soils) acquired for delivery to instruments during 152 sol mission....
This paper summarizes the Spirit rover operations in Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater from sols 513 to 1476 and provides an overview selected findings that focus on synergistic use Athena Payload comparisons orbital data. Results include discovery outcrops (Voltaire) Husband Hill are interpreted be altered impact melt deposits incorporated local materials during emplacement. Evidence for extensive volcanic activity aqueous alteration Inner Basin is also detailed, including characterization...
Imaging spectroscopy is a powerful, non-destructive mineralogic tool that provides insights into variety of geological processes.This remote measurement technique has been used for decades from orbital or aerial platforms to characterize surface compositions Earth and other solar system bodies.These instruments have now miniaturized use in the laboratory field, thereby enabling petrologic analyses samples outcrops.Here, we review present four examples showing exciting science potential new processes.
Al‐rich phyllosilicates (kaolinite, montmorillonite) have been found in layers overlying Fe/Mg‐smectites on Mars, and it has suggested that this stratigraphy formed through situ leaching at the surface, similar to terrestrial weathering profiles. We are investigating remotely sensed signatures of type using ten samples from a vertical section altered Deccan basalts four collected nearby as an analog for resulting phyllosilicate over Fe/Mg‐smectite stratigraphies. Samples were analyzed with...
Magnesium carbonates have been identified within the landing site of Perseverance rover mission. This study reviews terrestrial analog environments and textural, mineral assemblage, isotopic, elemental analyses that applied to establish formation conditions magnesium carbonates. form in five distinct settings: ultramafic rock-hosted veins, matrix carbonated peridotite, nodules soil, alkaline lake, playa deposits, as diagenetic replacements lime-and dolostones. Dominant textures include...
Abstract. Characterising the physico-chemical properties of dust-emitting sediments in arid regions is fundamental to understanding effects dust on climate and ecosystems. However, knowledge regarding high-latitude (HLD) remains limited. This study focuses analysing particle size distribution (PSD), mineralogy, cohesion, iron (Fe) mode occurrence, visible–near infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectra from hotspots Iceland (HLD region). Extensive analysis was conducted samples top sediments,...
Abstract. Constraining dust models to understand and quantify the effect of upon climate ecosystems requires comprehensive analyses physiochemical properties dust-emitting sediments in arid regions. Building previous studies Moroccan Sahara Iceland, we analyse a diverse set crusts aeolian ripples (n=55) from various potential basins within Mojave Desert, California, USA. Our focus is on characterizing particle size distribution (PSD), mineralogy, aggregation/cohesion state, Fe mode...
The application of infrared hyperspectral imagery to geological problems is becoming more popular as data become accessible and cost-effective. Clustering classifying spectrally similar materials often a first step in applications ranging from economic mineral exploration on Earth planetary Mars. Semi-manual classification guided by expertly developed spectral parameters can be time consuming biased, while supervised methods require abundant labeled difficult generalize. Here we develop...
Spirit rover experienced significant slips traversing Husband Hill. This paper analyzes the slippage from Sol 154 to 737. Slippage with respect terrain type and slope is computed using data downlinked rover, position, orientation estimations visual odometry (VO) photogrammetry based bundle adjustment (BA) method. Accumulated reached a maximum of 83.86 m on 648. However, as descended into Inner Basin, direction reversed, accumulated approached zero by end entire traverse. Eight local regions...
Oil shales contain abundant immature organic matter and are a potential unconventional petroleum resource. Prior studies have used visible/shortwave infrared imaging spectroscopy to map surface exposures of deposits from satellite airborne platforms image cores in the laboratory. Here, we work at an intermediate, outcrop-scale, testing ability field-based identify oil shale strata characterize depositional environments that led enrichment sedimentary rocks within Green River Formation, Utah,...
Abstract Serpentinization is a geological process involving the interaction of water and ultramafic rock, chemical byproducts which can serve as an energy source for microbial communities. Although serpentinite systems are known to host active life, it unclear what extent fossil evidence these communities may be preserved over time. Here we report detection biosignatures in mineralized fracture within drill cores from Samail Ophiolite Oman. Two varieties filamentous structures were...
Abstract Processes for formation, cooling, and altering Earth's ocean crust are not yet completely understood due to challenges in access sampling. Here, we use contiguous micro‐imaging infrared spectroscopy develop complete‐core maps of mineral occurrence investigate spatial patterns the hydrothermal alteration 1.2 km oceanic recovered from Oman Drilling Project Holes GT1A, GT2A, GT3A drilled Samail Ophiolite, Oman. The imaging spectrometer shortwave sensor measured reflectance light at...
Ancient hydrothermal systems are a high-priority target for future Mars sample return mission because they contain energy sources microbes and can preserve organic materials (Farmer, 2000; MEPAG Next Decade Science Analysis Group, 2008; McLennan et al.,2012; Michalski al.,2017). Characterizing these large, heterogeneous with remote explorer is difficult due to communications bandwidth latency; such will require significant advances in spacecraft autonomy. autonomy uses intelligent sensor...
Abstract Connecting the surface expression of impact crater‐related lithologies to planetary or regional subsurface compositions requires an understanding material transport during crater formation. Here, we use imaging spectroscopy six clast‐rich melt rock outcrops within well‐preserved 23.5‐Ma, 23‐km diameter Haughton structure, Canada, determine composition and spatial heterogeneity. We compare results from outcrop outcrop, using clasts, groundmass, integrated clast‐groundmass as tracers...
Abstract The impact melt‐bearing breccias at the Ries structure, Germany, host degassing pipes: vertical structures that are inferred to represent conduits along which gases and fluids escaped surface, consistent with hydrothermal activity occurs soon after an event. Although presence of pipes has been recognized within well‐preserved long‐studied ejecta deposits Ries, a detailed mineralogical study their alteration mineralogy, as avenue elucidate origins, not conducted date. Through...
Visible-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectrometers map composition remotely with spatial context, typically at many meters-scale from orbital and airborne data. Here, we evaluate VSWIR spectroscopy capabilities centimeters to sub-millimeter scale the Samail Ophiolite, Oman, where mafic ultramafic lithologies their alteration products, including serpentine carbonates, are exposed in a semi-arid environment, analogous similar mineral associations observed Mars orbit that will be explored...
Abstract Meteorite impacts on Earth and Mars can generate hydrothermal systems that alter the primary mineralogies of rocks provide suitable environments for microbial colonization. We investigate a calcite–marcasite‐bearing vug at ~23 km diameter Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada, using imaging spectroscopy outcrop in field (0.65–1.1 μm) samples laboratory (0.4–2.5 μm), point (0.35–2.5 major element chemistry, X‐ray diffraction analyses. The mineral assemblages mapped...
We use VSWIR microimaging spectroscopy to survey the spectral diversity of HED meteorites at 80-μm/pixel spatial scale. Our goal in this work is both explore emerging capabilities and contribute understanding petrologic suite evolution Vesta. Using a combination manual automated hyperspectral classification techniques, we identify four major classes materials based on absorptions that include pyroxene, olivine, Fe-bearing feldspars, glass-bearing/featureless materials. Results show an...