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Spectroscopy and reactivity of mineral analogs of the Martian soilTo answer the question of why life occurred on Earth but not on Mars requires a study of the geochemical and physical aspects of the Martian soil. Some of the best Mars analog mineral models of the soil have been prepared and justified according to known constraints of chemical composition, reflectance spectroscopy, and chemical reactivity. Detailed laboratory reflectance spectra in the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared (.30 to 2.5 microns) and the infrared (2.5 to 25 microns) regions have been obtained for the pure candidate minerals and some analog mixtures and compared to Mars reflectance spectra. Modeling of the reflectance spectra from optical constraints determined for the analog minerals has begun and will be interpreted in terms of the effects of particle size variation, component mixing, and soil packing upon remotely sensed reflectance spectra. This has implications not only for Mars, but for other planets and planetoids. The ratio of Fe(II)/Fe(III) in the Martian soil analog materials on spectral reflectance in the visible range has begun, and the results will be evaluated according to conformity with the visible Mars reflectance spectrum. Some initial LR and GEX data have been collected for the mineral samples and their mixtures, which can be compared with the Viking data and interpreted in terms of the redox (Fe(II)/Fe(III) environment.
Document ID
19920004385
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Banin, A. (Hebrew Univ. Jerusalem (Israel)., United States)
Orenberg, J. (San Francisco State Univ. CA., United States)
Roush, T. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Washington, Fourth Symposium on Chemical Evolution and the Origin and Evolution of Life
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
92N13603
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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