Research

Lunar Mineralogy from LRO Diviner

The Diviner Lunar Radiometer on board the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft includes three narrow-band channels near 8 μm designed to allow us to estimate the position of the silcate Christiansen feature, which is indicative of mineralogy. Using this instrument we have identified highly silicic features on the Moon, including likely volcanic edifices (see Figure to the left). Other group members are utilizing Diviner search for olivine-rich terrains on the Moon and refine estimates of surface mineralogy by combining data from Diviner and the Moon Mineralogy Mapper . 

Martian Salts

We are using data from the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) instruments to characterize chloride salt deposits on the surface of Mars. We have developed a novel model using the CRISM 3-micron band to constrain the abundances of chloride salts on the Martian surface. The CRISM image to the left shows a portion of the Terra Sirenum region of Mars, where we have applied our model to quantify salt abundances.

Coordinated Analyses of Primitive Carbonaceous Materials

We are using a variety of micro- and nano-scale analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy, and near-field infrared (nano-IR) imaging and spectroscopy to investigate the fine-scale mineralogy and organic speciation of primitive Solar System materials, with a focus on CM2 chondrites and samples of the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu. We will soon receive two samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu for similar analyses. The image on the left shows the near-field infrared amplitude of a portion of the matrix of Ryugu particle A0030 acquired at 30 nm/pixel spatial sampling. The numbered points show locations of individual spectra acquried on the section.

Micro- and Nano-scale Infrared Analyses of Lunar Granites

We are using micro- and nano-IR imaging and spectroscopy, SEM, and confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy to investigate the fine-scale mineralogy of rare lunar granite samples returned to Earth by the Apollo astronauts. A detailed understanding of the mineral assemblages present in granite clasts, their textures, and most importantly, the identity of the SiO2 phase(s) provides key constraints on the pressures and temperatures of granite crystallization. The image to the left shows a false color composite micro-FTIR map of a portion of Apollo regolith breccia 12034,106 overlaid on an SEM backscatter electron image. In this map quartz is dark blue, K-feldspar is light blue, and more mafic phases are orange and red.