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Australian Red Dune Sand: A Potential Martian Regolith AnalogTo demonstrate the potential scientific and technical merits of in situ microscopy on Mars, we analyzed a possible Martian regolith analog - an acolian red dune sand from the central Australian desert (near Mt. Olga). This sand was chosen for its ubiquitous red coating and the desert environment in which is it found. Grains of this sand were analyzed using a variety of microanalytical techniques. A database of detailed studies of such terrestrial analogs would assist the study of geological and astrobiological specimens in future missions to Mars. Potential instrument concepts for in situ deployment on Mars include local electrode atom probe nanoanalysis (LEAP), vertical scanning white light interferometry (VSWLI), scanning electron microscopies, energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). While in situ deployment of these techniques is many years away, ground-based studies using these analytical techniques extend our understanding of the data obtained from instruments to be flown in the near future.
Document ID
20010122745
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kuhlman, K. R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Marshall, J.
(Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Inst. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Evans, N. D.
(Oak Ridge National Lab. TN United States)
Luttge, A.
(Rice Univ. Houston, TX United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Field Trip and Workshop on the Martian Highlands and Mojave Desert Analogs
Subject Category
Geophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: DE-AC05-76OR-00033
CONTRACT_GRANT: DE-AC05-00OR-22725
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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