A5050750434- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Analytical chemistry methods development
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analyses
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
- Mineral Processing and Grinding
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- History and advancements in chemistry
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
Los Alamos National Laboratory
2016-2025
Universidad de Málaga
2023
Purdue University West Lafayette
2023
Los Alamos National Security (United States)
2021
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
2021
University of New Mexico
2008-2016
National Institute of Meteorology
2014-2016
Chevron (United States)
2015
Goddard Space Flight Center
2015
Chevron (Netherlands)
2014
The ChemCam instrument suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity provides remote compositional information using first laser-induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) a planetary mission, and sample texture morphology data micro-imager (RMI). Overall, supports MSL with five capabilities: classification of rock soil characteristics; quantitative elemental compositions including light elements like hydrogen some to which LIBS is uniquely sensitive (e.g., Li, Be, Rb, Sr, Ba);...
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...
The ChemCam instrument package on the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, is first planetary science to employ laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) determine compositions of geological samples another planet. Pre-processing spectra involves subtracting ambient light background, removing noise, electron continuum, calibrating for wavelength, correcting variable distance target, and applying a wavelength-dependent correction response. Further processing data uses multivariate...
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...
Abstract The Curiosity rover has analyzed abundant light‐toned fracture‐fill material within the Yellowknife Bay sedimentary deposits. ChemCam instrument, coupled with Mastcam and ChemCam/Remote Micro Imager images, was able to demonstrate that these fracture fills consist of calcium sulfate veins, many which appear be hydrated at a level expected for gypsum bassanite. Anhydrite is locally present found in location characterized by nodular texture. An intricate assemblage veins crosses...
Perseverance images of a delta on Mars The rover landed in Jezero crater, Mars, February 2021. Earlier orbital showed that the crater contains an ancient river was deposited by water flowing into lake billions years ago. Mangold et al . analyzed taken shortly after landing show distant cliff faces at edge delta. exposed stratigraphy and sizes boulders allowed them to determine past level discharge rates. An initially steady flow transitioned intermittent floods as planet dried out. This...
The Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater, Mars, to investigate ancient lake and river deposits. We report observations of the crater floor, below crater's sedimentary delta, finding that floor consists igneous rocks altered by water. lowest exposed unit, informally named Séítah, is a coarsely crystalline olivine-rich rock, which accumulated at base magma body. Magnesium-iron carbonates along grain boundaries indicate reactions with carbon dioxide-rich water under water-poor conditions....
Before Perseverance, Jezero crater's floor was variably hypothesized to have a lacustrine, lava, volcanic airfall, or aeolian origin. SuperCam observations in the first 286 Mars days on revealed and intrusive terrain with compositional density stratification. The dominant lithology along traverse is basaltic, plagioclase enrichment stratigraphically higher locations. Stratigraphically lower, layered rocks are richer normative pyroxene. lowest observed unit has highest inferred olivine-rich...
At Gale crater, Mars, ChemCam acquired its first laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) target on Sol 13 of the landed portion mission (a is a Mars day).
Abstract Textural and compositional analyses using Chemistry Camera (ChemCam) remote microimager laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) have been performed on five float rocks coarse gravels along the first 100 m of Curiosity traverse at Bradbury Rise. ChemCam, LIBS instrument sent to another planet, offers opportunity assess mineralogic diversity grain‐size scales (~ µm) and, from this, lithologic diversity. Depth profiling indicates that targets are relatively free surface coatings....
Abstract The Curiosity rover observed high Mn abundances (>25 wt % MnO) in fracture‐filling materials that crosscut sandstones the Kimberley region of Gale crater, Mars. correlation between and trace metal plus lack elements such as S, Cl, C, reveals these deposits are oxides rather than evaporites or other salts. On Earth, environments concentrate deposit minerals require water highly oxidizing conditions; hence, findings suggest similar processes occurred on Based strong association...
Abstract Volatiles and especially halogens (F Cl) have been recognized as important species in the genesis melting of planetary magmas. Data from Chemical Camera instrument on board Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity now provide first situ analyses fluorine at surface Mars. Two principal F‐bearing mineral assemblages are identified. The is associated with high aluminum low calcium contents, which phase an aluminosilicate. It found conglomerates may indicate petrologically evolved...
Abstract The surface of Mars has long been considered a relatively oxidizing environment, an idea supported by the abundance ferric iron phases observed there. However, compared to iron, manganese is sensitive only high redox potential oxidants, and when concentrated in rocks, it provides more specific indicator aqueous environments. Observations from ChemCam instrument on Curiosity rover indicate abundances some rock targets that are 1–2 orders magnitude higher than previously Mars,...
Abstract Before the Perseverance rover landing, acoustic environment of Mars was unknown. Models predicted that: (1) atmospheric turbulence changes at centimetre scales or smaller point where molecular viscosity converts kinetic energy into heat 1 , (2) speed sound varies surface with frequency 2,3 and (3) high-frequency waves are strongly attenuated distance in CO 2 (refs. 2–4 ). However, theoretical models were uncertain because a lack experimental data low pressure difficulty to...
Abstract Perseverance explored two geological units on the floor of Jezero Crater over first 420 Martian days Mars2020 mission. These units, Máaz and Séítah formations, are interpreted to be igneous in origin, with traces alteration. We report detection carbonate phases along rover traverse based laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), infrared reflectance (IRS), time‐resolved Raman (TRR) by SuperCam instrument. Carbonates identified through direct vibrational modes CO 3 functional...
Abstract Séítah is the stratigraphically lowest formation visited by Perseverance in Jezero crater floor. We present data obtained SuperCam: texture imagery, chemistry Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, and mineralogy Supercam Visible Infrared reflectance Raman spectroscopy. The consists of igneous, weakly altered rocks dominated millimeter‐sized grains olivine with presence low‐Ca high‐Ca pyroxenes, other primary minerals (e.g., plagioclase, Cr‐Fe‐Ti oxides, phosphates). Along a ∼140 m...
Abstract Identifying unequivocal signs of life on Mars is one the most important objectives for sending missions to red planet. Here we report Red Stone, a 163-100 My alluvial fan–fan delta that formed under arid conditions in Atacama Desert, rich hematite and mudstones containing clays such as vermiculite smectites, therefore geologically analogous Mars. We show Stone samples display an number microorganisms with unusual high rate phylogenetic indeterminacy, what refer “dark microbiome”,...
Abstract The ChemCam instrument package on the Mars rover, Curiosity , provides new capabilities to probe abundances of certain trace elements in rocks and soils using laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy technique. We focus detecting quantifying Li, Ba, Rb, Sr targets analyzed during first 100 sols, from Bradbury Landing Site Rocknest. Univariate peak area models multivariate partial least squares are presented. detected for time directly Mars, is generally low (<15 ppm). lack soil...
Abstract The ChemCam instrument package on the Curiosity rover was used to characterize distinctive raised ridges in Sheepbed mudstone, Yellowknife Bay formation, Gale Crater. multilayered, fracture‐filling are more resistant erosion than mudstone rock which they occur. bulk average composition of is enriched MgO by 1.2–1.7 times (average 8.3–11.4 wt %; single‐shot maximum 17.0 %) over that mudstone. Al 2 O 3 anticorrelated with MgO, while Li somewhat where highest. Some show a variation...