M. E. Minitti
A5004200818- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Space exploration and regulation
- Marine and environmental studies
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Geological Modeling and Analysis
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Mineral Processing and Grinding
- Historical and Architectural Studies
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques
- Geological formations and processes
Planetary Science Institute
2014-2024
Framework
2021-2022
Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care
2019
Arizona State University
2002-2018
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
2012-2017
Johns Hopkins University
2013
Carnegie Institution for Science
2001-2004
Geophysical Laboratory
2002-2004
Brown University
1998-2002
John Brown University
1999
The Curiosity rover discovered fine-grained sedimentary rocks, which are inferred to represent an ancient lake and preserve evidence of environment that would have been suited support a martian biosphere founded on chemolithoautotrophy. This aqueous was characterized by neutral pH, low salinity, variable redox states both iron sulfur species. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus were measured directly as key biogenic elements; inference, is assumed available. probably had...
Ancient lake system at Gale crater Since 2012, the Curiosity rover has been diligently studying rocky outcrops on Mars, looking for clues about past water, climate, and habitability. Grotzinger et al. describe analysis of a huge section sedimentary rocks near crater, where Mount Sharp now stands (see Perspective by Chan). The features within these sediments are reminiscent delta, stream, deposits Earth. Although individual lakes were probably transient, it is likely that there was enough...
Samples from the Rocknest aeolian deposit were heated to ~835°C under helium flow and evolved gases analyzed by Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite. H 2 O, SO , CO O major released. Water abundance (1.5 3 weight percent) release temperature suggest that is bound within an amorphous component of sample. Decomposition fine-grained Fe or Mg carbonate likely source much . Evolved coincident with Cl, suggesting oxygen produced thermal decomposition oxychloride compound. Elevated...
Volume mixing and isotope ratios secured with repeated atmospheric measurements taken the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite on Curiosity rover are: carbon dioxide (CO2), 0.960(±0.007); argon-40 ((40)Ar), 0.0193(±0.0001); nitrogen (N2), 0.0189(±0.0003); oxygen, 1.45(±0.09) × 10(-3); monoxide, < 1.0 (40)Ar/(36)Ar, 1.9(±0.3) 10(3). The (40)Ar/N2 ratio is 1.7 times greater (40)Ar/(36)Ar 1.6 lower than values reported by Viking Lander mass spectrometer in 1976, whereas other are generally...
H 2 O, CO , SO O S, HCl, chlorinated hydrocarbons, NO, and other trace gases were evolved during pyrolysis of two mudstone samples acquired by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay within Gale crater, Mars. O/OH-bearing phases included 2:1 phyllosilicate(s), bassanite, akaganeite, amorphous materials. Thermal decomposition carbonates combustion organic materials are candidate sources for . Concurrent evolution hydrocarbons suggests presence oxychlorine phase(s). Sulfides likely...
Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory Mast Camera (Mastcam) in Gale crater reveal isolated outcrops of cemented pebbles (2 to 40 millimeters diameter) and sand grains with textures typical fluvial sedimentary conglomerates. Rounded conglomerates indicate substantial abrasion. ChemCam emission spectra at one outcrop show a predominantly feldspathic composition, consistent minimal aqueous alteration sediments. Sediment was mobilized ancient water flows that likely exceeded threshold...
Sedimentary rocks examined by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay, Mars, were derived from sources that evolved an approximately average martian crustal composition to one influenced alkaline basalts. No evidence of chemical weathering is preserved, indicating arid, possibly cold, paleoclimates and rapid erosion deposition. The absence predicted geochemical variations indicates magnetite phyllosilicates formed diagenesis under low-temperature, circumneutral pH, rock-dominated aqueous...
The ChemCam instrument, which provides insight into martian soil chemistry at the submillimeter scale, identified two principal types along Curiosity rover traverse: a fine-grained mafic type and locally derived, coarse-grained felsic type. component is representative of widespread soils similar in composition to dust. It possesses ubiquitous hydrogen signature spectra, corresponding hydration amorphous phases found by CheMin instrument. This likely accounts for an important fraction global...
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) investigation will use a 2-megapixel color camera with focusable macro lens aboard the rover, Curiosity, to investigate stratigraphy and grain-scale texture, structure, mineralogy, morphology of geologic materials in northwestern Gale crater. Of particular interest is stratigraphic record ∼5 km thick layered rock sequence exposed on slopes Aeolis Mons (also known as Mount Sharp). instrument consists three parts, head mounted turret...
Significance We present data supporting the presence of an indigenous source fixed nitrogen on surface Mars in form nitrate. This may indicate first stage development a primitive cycle ancient and would have provided biochemically accessible nitrogen.
Abstract The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics Chemicals (SHERLOC) is a robotic arm-mounted instrument on NASA’s Perseverance rover. SHERLOC has two primary boresights. Spectroscopy boresight generates spatially resolved chemical maps using fluorescence spectroscopy coupled to microscopic images (10.1 μm/pixel). second Wide Angle Topographic Sensor Operations eNgineering (WATSON); copy of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) that...
Abstract The presence and distribution of preserved organic matter on the surface Mars can provide key information about Martian carbon cycle potential planet to host life throughout its history. Several types molecules have been previously detected in meteorites 1 at Gale crater, 2–4 . Evaluating diversity detectability elsewhere is important for understanding extent processes availability sources 1,5,6 Here we report detection Raman fluorescence spectra consistent with several species...
Abstract Sulfur plays a major role in martian geochemistry and sulfate minerals are important repositories of water. However, their hydration states on Mars poorly constrained. Therefore, understanding the distribution is for its geologic, hydrologic, atmospheric evolution as well habitability potential. NASA's Perseverance rover currently exploring Noachian‐age Jezero crater, which hosts fan‐delta system associated with paleolake. The crater floor includes two igneous units (the Séítah Máaz...
"Jake_M," the first rock analyzed by Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer instrument on Curiosity rover, differs substantially in chemical composition from other known martian igneous rocks: It is alkaline (>15% normative nepheline) and relatively fractionated. Jake_M compositionally similar to terrestrial mugearites, a type typically found at ocean islands continental rifts. By analogy with these comparable rocks, could have been produced extensive fractional crystallization of primary or...
Abstract The Mars Science Laboratory Mast camera and Descent Imager investigations were designed, built, operated by Malin Space Systems of San Diego, CA. They share common electronics focal plane designs but have different optics. There are two Mastcams dissimilar length. Mastcam‐34 has an f /8, 34 mm length lens, the M‐100 /10, 100 lens. M‐34 field view is about 20° × 15° with instantaneous (IFOV) 218 μrad; (FOV) 6.8° 5.1° IFOV 74 μrad. can focus from 0.5 m to infinity, ~1.6 infinity. All...
Abstract The first four rocks examined by the Mars Science Laboratory Alpha Particle X‐ray Spectrometer indicate that Curiosity landed in a lithologically diverse region of Mars. These rocks, collectively dubbed Bradbury assemblage, were studied along an eastward traverse (sols 46–102). Compositions range from Na‐ and Al‐rich mugearite Jake_Matijevic to Fe‐, Mg‐, Zn‐rich alkali‐rich basalt/hawaiite Bathurst_Inlet span nearly entire FeO* MnO data sets previous Martian missions meteorites....
Abstract The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover performed coordinated measurements to examine the textures and compositions of aeolian sands in active Bagnold dune field. are rounded subrounded, very fine medium sized (~45–500 μm) with ≥6 distinct grain colors. In contrast examined by a dust‐covered, inactive bedform called Rocknest soils at other landing sites, darker, less red, better sorted, have fewer silt‐sized or smaller grains, show no evidence for cohesion. Nevertheless,...
By analogy with Earth, methane in the Martian atmosphere is a potential signature of ongoing or past biological activity. During decade, Earth-based telescopic observations reported "plumes" tens parts per billion by volume (ppbv), and those from Mars orbit showed localized patches, prompting speculation sources subsurface bacteria nonbiological sources. From situ measurements made Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) on Curiosity using distinctive spectral pattern specific to methane, we report...
Abstract Modern Martian dust is similar in composition to the global soil unit and bulk basaltic Mars crust, but it enriched S Cl. The Alpha Particle X‐ray Spectrometer (APXS) on Science Laboratory Curiosity rover analyzed air fall science observation tray (o‐tray) Gale Crater determine oxide compositions. o‐tray has highest concentrations of SO 3 Cl measured (SO 8.3%; 1.1 wt %). molar S/Cl (3.35 ± 0.34) consistent with previous studies soils (S/Cl = 3.7 0.7). Fe also elevated ~25% over...
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover data are used to describe the morphology of desiccation cracks observed in ancient lacustrine strata at Gale crater, Mars, and interpret their paleoenvironmental setting. The indicate subaerial exposure facies Sutton Island member Murray formation. In association with ripple cross-stratification possible eolian cross-bedding, these a transition from longer-lived perennial lakes recorded by older younger characterized intermittent exposure....
Abstract The goals of NASA's Mars 2020 mission include searching for evidence ancient life on Mars, studying the geology Jezero crater, understanding Mars' current and past climate, preparing human exploration Mars. During mission's first science campaign, Perseverance rover's SHERLOC deep UV Raman fluorescence instrument collected microscale, two‐dimensional images 10 natural (unabraded) abraded targets two different crater floor units: Séítah Máaz. We report measurements during Crater...
Abstract The Perseverance rover has collected seven oriented samples of sedimentary rocks, all likely older than the oldest signs widespread life on Earth, at exposed base western fan in Jezero crater, Mars. include a sulfate‐ and clay‐bearing mudstone sandstone, fluvial sandstone from stratigraphically low position front, carbonate‐bearing deposited above sulfate‐bearing strata. All contain aqueously precipitated materials most or were deposited. Although instruments have not confidently...
Abstract This paper characterizes the detailed sedimentology of a fluvial sandbody on Mars for first time and interprets its depositional processes palaeoenvironmental setting. Despite numerous orbital observations landforms surface Mars, ground‐based characterization such deposits has not previously been possible. Results from NASA Science Laboratory Curiosity rover provide an opportunity to reconstruct at fine scale sedimentary architecture palaeomorphology environment Mars. work describes...
Abstract During Martian solar days 57–100, the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover acquired and processed a solid (sediment) sample analyzed its mineralogy geochemistry with Chemistry Mineralogy Sample Analysis at instruments. An aeolian deposit—herein referred to as Rocknest sand shadow—was inferred represent global average soil composition selected for study facilitate integration of analytical results observations from earlier missions. first‐time activities, Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI)...