Ceramic ChemCam Calibration Targets on Mars Science Laboratory

Vaniman, D. T.; Dyar, M. D.; Wiens, R. C.; Ollila, A.; Lanza, N.; Lasue, J.; Rhodes, J. M.; Clegg, S. M.; Newsom, H. E.

doi:10.1007/s11214-012-9886-0

Cited by 55 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…These standard deviations are upper limits on the actual precision as they include target effects from grains of heterogeneous compositions as well as the natural variability in target composition. Another measure of the precision is obtained by comparing an ensemble of similar observations of ChemCam's onboard calibration targets [ Fabre et al ., , ; Vaniman et al ., ]. Such a comparison of analyses performed in the Rocknest location yields similar precision estimates to those mentioned above [ Blaney et al ., ].…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 69%

Chemistry of fracture‐filling raised ridges in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater: Window into past aqueous activity and habitability on Mars

et al. 2014

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The ChemCam instrument package on the Curiosity rover was used to characterize distinctive raised ridges in the Sheepbed mudstone, Yellowknife Bay formation, Gale Crater. The multilayered, fracture-filling ridges are more resistant to erosion than the Sheepbed mudstone rock in which they occur. The bulk average composition of the raised ridges is enriched in MgO by 1.2-1.7 times (average of 8.3-11.4 wt %; single-shot maximum of 17.0 wt %) over that of the mudstone. Al 2 O 3 is anticorrelated with MgO, while Li is somewhat enriched where MgO is highest. Some ridges show a variation in composition with different layers on a submillimeter scale. In particular, the McGrath target shows similar high-MgO resistant outer layers and a low-MgO, less resistant inner layer. This is consistent with the interpretation that the raised ridges are isopachous fracture-filling cements with a stratigraphy that likely reveals changes in fluid composition or depositional conditions over time. Overall, the average composition of the raised ridges is close to that of a Mg-and Fe-rich smectite, or saponite, which may also be the main clay mineral constituent of the host mudstone. These analyses provide evidence of diagenesis and aqueous activity in the early postdepositional history of the Yellowknife Bay formation, consistent with a low salinity to brackish fluid at near-neutral or slightly alkaline pH. The fluids that circulated through the fractures likely interacted with the Sheepbed mudstone and (or) other stratigraphically adjacent rock units of basaltic composition and leached Mg from them preferentially.

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Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 69%

Chemistry of fracture‐filling raised ridges in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater: Window into past aqueous activity and habitability on Mars

et al. 2014

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“…[], which discusses the sample suite in detail. Eight of the samples are calibration targets (ChemCam Calibration Targets or CCCTs) that are replicates of materials sent to Mars on the rover [ Fabre et al ., ; Vaniman et al ., ]. These targets are fabricated glasses (designated Picrite, Shergottite, and Norite due to their compositional similarity to picritic, shergottitic, and noritic materials), ceramics (NAU2‐Lo‐S, NAU2‐Med‐S, NAU2‐Hi‐S, and KGA‐Med‐S) designed to mimic expected compositions on Mars, and Macusanite, a natural peraluminous obsidian glass.…”

Section: Experimental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace element geochemistry (Li, Ba, Sr, and Rb) using Curiosity's ChemCam: Early results for Gale crater from Bradbury Landing Site to Rocknest

Ollila¹,

Newsom²,

Clark

et al. 2014

JGR Planets

114

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1] The ChemCam instrument package on the Mars rover, Curiosity, provides new capabilities to probe the abundances of certain trace elements in the rocks and soils on Mars using the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique. We focus on detecting and quantifying Li, Ba, Rb, and Sr in targets analyzed during the first 100 sols, from Bradbury Landing Site to Rocknest. Univariate peak area models and multivariate partial least squares models are presented. Li, detected for the first time directly on Mars, is generally low (<15 ppm). The lack of soil enrichment in Li, which is highly fluid mobile, is consistent with limited influx of subsurface waters contributing to the upper soils. Localized enrichments of up to~60 ppm Li have been observed in several rocks but the host mineral for Li is unclear. Bathurst_Inlet is a fine-grained bedrock unit in which several analysis locations show a decrease in Li and other alkalis with depth, which may imply that the unit has undergone low-level aqueous alteration that has preferentially drawn the alkalis to the surface. Ba (~1000 ppm) was detected in a buried pebble in the Akaitcho sand ripple and it appears to correlate with Si, Al, Na, and K, indicating a possible feldspathic composition. Rb and Sr are in the conglomerate Link at abundances >100 ppm and >1000 ppm, respectively. These analysis locations tend to have high Si and alkali abundances, consistent with a feldspar composition. Together, these trace element observations provide possible evidence of magma differentiation and aqueous alteration. Citation: Ollila, A. M., et al. (2014), Trace element geochemistry (Li, Ba, Sr, and Rb) using Curiosity's ChemCam: Early results for Gale crater from Bradbury Landing Site to Rocknest,

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“…The rst one consists of spectra collected from ten targets on-board the rover. 24,25 These targets are intensively used for verication of instrument health, for wavelength calibration, and to support quantication. However, due to their limited number, they do not cover the full range of compositions on Mars.…”

Section: High-level Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such a large range is reected in the Relative Standard Deviations (RSDs) of the emission peak areas (highest for the lowest amounts, and lowest RSDs for the highest concentrations). Both the univariate technique and PLS are used to quantify these elements, based on the on-board calibration targets 4,16,24,25 and laboratory sample suites that are custom-made for that purpose.…”

Section: Non-metallic Elements (H C O P S)mentioning

confidence: 99%

ChemCam activities and discoveries during the nominal mission of the Mars Science Laboratory in Gale crater, Mars

Maurice

Clegg

Wiens

et al. 2016

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

Self Cite

151

111

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At Gale crater, Mars, ChemCam acquired its first laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) target on Sol 13 of the landed portion of the mission (a Sol is a Mars day). Up to Sol 800, more than 188 000 LIBS spectra were acquired on more than 5800 points distributed over about 650 individual targets. We present a comprehensive review of ChemCam scientific accomplishments during that period, together with a focus on the lessons learned from the first use of LIBS in space. For data processing, we describe new tools that had to be developed to account for the uniqueness of Mars data. With regard to chemistry, we present a summary of the composition range measured on Mars for major-element oxides (SiO 2 , TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , FeO T , MgO, CaO, Na 2 O, K 2 O) based on various multivariate models, with associated precisions.ChemCam also observed H, and the non-metallic elements C, O, P, and S, which are usually difficult to quantify with LIBS. F and Cl are observed through their molecular lines. We discuss the most relevant LIBS lines for detection of minor and trace elements (Li, Rb, Sr, Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Zn). These results were obtained thanks to comprehensive ground reference datasets, which are set to mimic the expected mineralogy and chemistry on Mars. With regard to the first use of LIBS in space, we analyze and quantify, often for the first time, each of the advantages of using stand-off LIBS in space: no sample preparation, analysis within its petrological context, dust removal, sub-millimeter scale investigation, multi-point analysis, the ability to carry out statistical surveys and whole-rock analyses, and rapid data acquisition.We conclude with a discussion of ChemCam performance to survey the geochemistry of Mars, and its valuable support of decisions about selecting where and whether to make observations with more time and resource-intensive tools in the rover's instrument suite. In the end, we present a bird's-eye view of Cite this:

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Ceramic ChemCam Calibration Targets on Mars Science Laboratory

Cited by 55 publications

References 21 publications

Chemistry of fracture‐filling raised ridges in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater: Window into past aqueous activity and habitability on Mars

Chemistry of fracture‐filling raised ridges in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater: Window into past aqueous activity and habitability on Mars

Trace element geochemistry (Li, Ba, Sr, and Rb) using Curiosity's ChemCam: Early results for Gale crater from Bradbury Landing Site to Rocknest

ChemCam activities and discoveries during the nominal mission of the Mars Science Laboratory in Gale crater, Mars

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