MSL - SAM and CHEMIN, Discussion of the science/results from these instruments |
MSL - SAM and CHEMIN, Discussion of the science/results from these instruments |
Nov 21 2012, 11:46 AM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
ADMIN NOTE: Hi All, a new topic for the discussion of the science from the SAM and Chemin instruments.
There has been a very important amendment to Rule 1.3 which is explained here. Please remember Rule 1.3 at all times when discussing matters in this section. |
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Mar 9 2013, 02:40 AM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 507 Joined: 10-September 08 Member No.: 4338 |
If the SAM and CHEMIN instruments performed measurements on a random mudstone on Earth, what would be the probability that they would detect organics?
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Mar 9 2013, 10:52 AM
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#3
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 93 Joined: 21-January 13 Member No.: 6845 |
The heating like done by SAM is not done often on rock samples here on earth. So there is limited data most of it would have been in the SAM team. The mud stones especially if it is a layered structure have been shown to preserve organics but also bind the organics very well in the layered structures. If you chose the random mudstone well then SAM might not find anything. In most mudstones SAM would detect organics. For Amino acids and nucleo base the whole thing is very complicated. Only the SAM team knows to what extent the derivatisation will improve the situation. The silicates with large surface area also tend to be catalytic for numerous chemical reactions.
If CHEMIN will detect organics something very strange has happened. Crystals of organic material must be the main compound of the modstone. Carbon is a light element and does not give good x-ray diffraction, heavy elements work much better.Wikipedia gives a few examples of organic crystalline minerals. Carpathite is one of them. If this is the main compound of the sample SAM would be in deep trouble by the organic overload. |
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