Understanding the Chemistry of the Rocks at Jezero crater, Mars, through the Combined Use of SuperCam Spectroscopic and Optical Techniques

Abstract

The SuperCam instrument onboard Perseverance rover has remote imaging (RMI), VISIR, LIBS, Raman and Time-Resolved Luminescence (TRL) capabilities. RMI images of the rocks at the Octavia Butler landing site have revealed important granular texture diversities. VISIR raster point observations have revealed important differences in the 2.10-2.50 μm infrared range (metal-hydroxides); many include water features at 1.40±0.04 and 1.92±0.02 μm [1]. LIBS observations on the same points analyzed by VISIR revealed important differences in the concentrations of major elements, suggesting mineral grain sizes larger