Mapping Hydrothermal systems on MARS. Presentation Overview Hyperspectral Mapping Project...

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?