Upload
randall-page
View
214
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Mapping Mapping Hydrothermal Hydrothermal systems onsystems on
MARSMARS
Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview
• Hyperspectral Mapping Project BackgroundHyperspectral Mapping Project Background
• Signs of early life – Pilbara, WASigns of early life – Pilbara, WA
• SWIR Mapping of a Stromatolite horizonSWIR Mapping of a Stromatolite horizon
• Relevance to MarsRelevance to Mars– Latest results with the Mini TES instrumentLatest results with the Mini TES instrument
Who am I?Who am I?• Adrian BrownAdrian Brown• PhD student at the Australian Centre for PhD student at the Australian Centre for
Astrobiology (ACA), Macquarie UniversityAstrobiology (ACA), Macquarie University• Supervisors are Prof. Malcolm Walter, Director Supervisors are Prof. Malcolm Walter, Director
of the ACA, and Dr. Tom Cudahy, CSIROof the ACA, and Dr. Tom Cudahy, CSIRO• Thesis topic – Mapping Ancient Hydrothermal Thesis topic – Mapping Ancient Hydrothermal
Systems on Earth and MarsSystems on Earth and Mars
Hyperspectral mapping Hyperspectral mapping projectproject
Signs of early life – Pilbara, Signs of early life – Pilbara, WAWA
• ACA scientists are investigating the ACA scientists are investigating the ancient Pilbara region of northern Western ancient Pilbara region of northern Western AustraliaAustralia
• 3.5 billion years old3.5 billion years old
• Contains first signs of life on Earth in the Contains first signs of life on Earth in the form of stromatolitesform of stromatolites
• Could be a good analogue for MarsCould be a good analogue for Mars
North Pole DomeNorth Pole Dome
SWIR Mapping of Stromatolite SWIR Mapping of Stromatolite OutcropOutcrop
• Aims:Aims:– Can we remotely detect and identify hydrothermal Can we remotely detect and identify hydrothermal
alteration minerals in a site of astrobiological alteration minerals in a site of astrobiological interest? interest?
– Can we put stromatolite occurrences in Can we put stromatolite occurrences in mineralogical context using SWIR mapping?mineralogical context using SWIR mapping?
– Can rovers automatically identify minerals for us?Can rovers automatically identify minerals for us?– Is this technique of use on Mars?Is this technique of use on Mars?
SWIR SpectrometrySWIR Spectrometry
• A spectrometer splits up light into different colours A spectrometer splits up light into different colours • By graphing colour intensities we can record a By graphing colour intensities we can record a
characteristic spectral response of rockscharacteristic spectral response of rocks
Rock Sample
Sun
Diffractometer
Collector
Infrared
Red
Yellow
Blue
Ultraviolet
Tools of the tradeTools of the trade
• PIMA PIMA • GPS enabled Pocket PCGPS enabled Pocket PC
Geological MappingGeological Mapping
Typical Typical SpectraSpectra
Geological MappingGeological Mapping
Mars Exploration Rovers Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)(MER)
MER InstrumentsMER Instruments
APXS – APXS – alpha particle alpha particle x-ray spectrometerx-ray spectrometer
Mossbauer – Mossbauer – fe fe spectrometerspectrometer
MI – MI – microscope imagermicroscope imager
RAT – RAT – rock abrasion rock abrasion tooltool
PANCAM – PANCAM – panoramic panoramic cameracamera
Mini TES – Mini TES – thermal thermal emission spectrometeremission spectrometer
Magnetic ArraysMagnetic Arrays
Thermal IR Maps on MarsThermal IR Maps on Mars
Silicates
Carbonates
CO2
Australian Australian contributiocontribution to a Mars n to a Mars
mission?mission?