Spectroscopic study of terrestrial analogues to support rover missions to Mars – A Raman-centred review

Rull, Fernando; Veneranda, Marco; Manrique, José Antonio; Sanz-Arranz, Aurelio; Sáiz, Jesús; Medina, Jesús; Moral, Andoni; Pérez, Carlos Barceló; Seoane, Laura; Lalla, E.A.; Charro, E.; López, José Manuel; Nieto, Luís M.; López‐Reyes, Guillermo

doi:10.1016/j.aca.2021.339003

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 158 publications

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“…In order to study the surface rocks of Mars, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), USA, sent the Perseverance Rover with a suit of miniature analytical instruments in different modules known as Mastcam-Z, MEDA, MOXIE, PIXL, RIMFAX, SHERLOC, and SuperCam, in which PIXL contains micro-XRF to determine the fine scale elemental composition of Martian surface materials, and SHERLOC contains micro-UV Raman spectrometer to provide complementary measurements with other instruments in the payload (Rull et al 2021). In the earlier Curiosity Rover, there was a module known as ChemCam (Chemistry & Camera).…”

Section: Portable Multi-analytical Devices and Micro Analytical Devic...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Indicator Minerals, Pathfinder Elements, and Portable Analytical Instruments in Mineral Exploration Studies

Balaram¹,

Sawant²

2022

Preprint

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Until recently, the classic approach to mineral exploration studies is to bring the field samples/drill cores collected during field studies to the laboratory followed by laborious analysis procedures to generate the analytical data. This is very expensive, time consuming and difficult for exploring vast areas. But rapid technological advances in field portable analytical instruments such as portable ultraviolet–visible and near-infrared spectrophotometers, gamma ray spectrometer, pXRF, pXRD, pLIBS, and µRaman spectrometer have changed this scenario completely and increased their on-site applications in mineral exploration studies. These instruments are currently providing direct, rapid, on-site, real-time, non-destructive, cost-effective identification, and determination of target elements, indicator minerals and pathfinder elements in rock, soil, and sediment samples. These portable analytical instruments are currently helping to obtain accurate chemical and mineralogical information directly in field with minimal or no sample preparation, and providing decision-making support during field work as well as during drilling operations in several successful mineral exploration programs. In this article, the developments in these portable devices, and their contributions in the platinum group elements (PGE), rare earth elements (REE), gold, base metals, and lithium exploration studies both on land and on ocean bed have been summarized with examples.

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Section: Portable Multi-analytical Devices and Micro Analytical Devic...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Indicator Minerals, Pathfinder Elements, and Portable Analytical Instruments in Mineral Exploration Studies

Balaram¹,

Sawant²

2022

Preprint

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“…There is a need to make an extensive spectroscopic database using the parametric restrictions of Raman spectrometers that will be part of the instrumentation of future missions, such as the limitations in their optical systems. While the detection of clay minerals with a non-confocal Raman spectrometer is challenging due to the small grain size 15 , sulfates and oxides, among others, usually give intense Raman signals that allow a good mineral characterization 16 . Interestingly, there is extensive work relating the Raman signatures to biomediation on minerals, which we summarize and compare with our own spectra of natural mineral phases taken in two field campaigns to Iceland during 2017 and 2018.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raman spectroscopic peculiarities of Icelandic poorly crystalline minerals and their implications for Mars exploration

Muñoz–Iglesias

Sánchez-García

Carrizo

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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In this work, we have analyzed natural samples collected at three hydrothermal areas of Iceland by Raman spectroscopy. The studied high-latitude regions are considered environmentally and mineralogically appropriate Martian analogues since they are rich in weathered basalts that have been altered by hydrothermalism to mineral phases such as silica, clay minerals, sulfates, oxides, and sulfur. The main objective of this work was to assess the relation of the spectroscopic signatures of alteration to hydrothermal processes and biomediation, considering previous studies focused on the detection of lipid biomarkers in the same samples. The recorded Raman spectra, taken with optical parameters similar to the ExoMars 2022 Raman spectrometer, showed structural modifications in all secondary minerals in the form of peak shifts (in the case of sulfur and clay minerals), changes in the relative ratio intensity (in anatase) and/or shape broadening (in sulfates and hematite). These results reveal the suitability of Raman spectroscopy to examine areas rich in water-altered minerals, where a mixture of crystalline and amorphous phases can co-exist. The detection of silica is singularly interesting since, on the one hand, it can imply the past existence of hydrothermal hot springs rich in nutrient and redox gradients and, on the other hand, provides excellent matrix for biosignature preservation. The data can be helpful as an astrobiological database for the forthcoming missions to Mars, where potential upwelling groundwater systems could have altered the mineral phases in a similar way to that observed in this work.

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“…The study of terrestrial analog sites is seen as essential for: (i) studying the limits of life (e.g., Azua-Bustos et al, 2012 ; DasSarma et al, 2017 ; Koschnitzki et al, 2021 ), (ii) obtaining new microbes for astrobiological exposure experiments (e.g., Musilova et al, 2015 ; Beblo-Vranesevic et al, 2020 ), (iii) analyzing long-term viability and preservation of microbes and biomolecules (e.g., Gramain et al, 2011 ; Leuko et al, 2017 ; Schreder-Gomes et al, 2022 ), (iv) technology development and testing for life-detection in space missions (e.g., Harris et al, 2015 ; García-Descalzo et al, 2019 ; Lantz et al, 2020 ; Dypvik et al, 2021 ; Rull et al, 2022 ), and (v) defining and refining planetary protection measures (e.g., Rettberg et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The archaeal class Halobacteria and astrobiology: Knowledge gaps and research opportunities

McGenity

Rettberg

et al. 2022

Front. Microbiol.

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Water bodies on Mars and the icy moons of the outer solar system are now recognized as likely being associated with high levels of salt. Therefore, the study of high salinity environments and their inhabitants has become increasingly relevant for Astrobiology. Members of the archaeal class Halobacteria are the most successful microbial group living in hypersaline conditions and are recognized as key model organisms for exposure experiments. Despite this, data for the class is uneven across taxa and widely dispersed across the literature, which has made it difficult to properly assess the potential for species of Halobacteria to survive under the polyextreme conditions found beyond Earth. Here we provide an overview of published data on astrobiology-linked exposure experiments performed with members of the Halobacteria, identifying clear knowledge gaps and research opportunities.

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Spectroscopic study of terrestrial analogues to support rover missions to Mars – A Raman-centred review

Cited by 19 publications

References 158 publications

Indicator Minerals, Pathfinder Elements, and Portable Analytical Instruments in Mineral Exploration Studies

Indicator Minerals, Pathfinder Elements, and Portable Analytical Instruments in Mineral Exploration Studies

Raman spectroscopic peculiarities of Icelandic poorly crystalline minerals and their implications for Mars exploration

The archaeal class Halobacteria and astrobiology: Knowledge gaps and research opportunities

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