VisNIR Reflectance Spectrometer: 2003 Field Test Results

1
Vis/NIR Reflectance Spectrometer2003 Field Test
Results

• J. Moersch
• U. Tennessee
• Life in the Atacama ASTEP Workshop
• 29 July 2003

2
ASD Portable Field Spectrometer
Some Specs Wavelength range 350-2500
nm Spectral Resolution 3-30 nm Time reqd
for one spectrum 1-2 seconds in
sunlight Dimensions 33 x 11 x 41
cm Mass 8.6 kg
3
ASD Portable Field Spectrometer
Spectrometer Laptop Fiber Optic
Pan/Tilt Platform 1 deg. Foreoptic
4
ASD Portable Field Spectrometer
Calibration standard
Artificial illumination source
5
ASD Portable Field Spectrometer
6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)
12
Hematite Clay Calcite Hematite
Calcite Sulfate Sulfate Hematite
13
Mixtures of iron-oxide, clay, carbonate.
Carbonate particularly strong in 7. No carbonate
in 6a or 6b.
14
Fe-Oxide (Goethite?) Clay Calcite Pyroxene
(?)
15
16 and 19 have strong sulfate features.
16
More Fe-oxide with minor clay. 21 was requested
calibration spectrum.
17
Mostly featureless except some minor clays. Could
be any number of things feldspars, halite,
fine-grained particulates, etc. Fe-oxide feature
less prominent than most previous spectra.
18
Chlorophyll?
19
(No Transcript)
20
Summary

• Relatively diverse mineral suite
• Extensive evidence for aqueous history (clays,
  carbonates, sulfates)
• Evidence for alteration (Fe-oxide, clays)
• Possibly primary igneous minerals (pyroxene)
• Fe-oxide features less prominent further south
• No unambiguous evidence for life