skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Recalibration of the Mars Science Laboratory ChemCam instrument with an expanded geochemical database

Abstract

The ChemCam Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity has obtained > 300,000 spectra of rock and soil analysis targets since landing at Gale Crater in 2012, and the spectra represent perhaps the largest publicly-available LIBS datasets. The compositions of the major elements, reported as oxides, have been re-calibrated using a laboratory LIBS instrument, Mars-like atmospheric conditions, and a much larger set of standards (408) that span a wider compositional range than previously employed. The new calibration uses a combination of partial least squares (PLS1) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) algorithms, together with a calibration transfer matrix to minimize differences between the conditions under which the standards were analyzed in the laboratory and the conditions on Mars. While the previous model provided good results in the compositional range near the average Mars surface composition, the new model fits the extreme compositions far better. Examples are given for plagioclase feldspars, where silicon was previously significantly over-estimated, and for calcium-sulfate veins, where silicon compositions near zero were inaccurate. Here, the uncertainties of major element abundances are described as a function of the abundances, and are overall significantly lower than the previous model, enabling important new geochemicalmore » interpretations of the data.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more »; ; ; ; ; « less
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1338777
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-21569
Journal ID: ISSN 0584-8547
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Spectrochimica Acta. Part B, Atomic Spectroscopy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 129; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0584-8547
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; Planetary Sciences

Citation Formats

Clegg, Samuel M., Wiens, Roger C., Anderson, Ryan, Forni, Olivier, Frydenvang, Jens, Lasue, Jeremie, Cousin, Agnes, Payré, Valérie, Boucher, Tommy, Dyar, M. Darby, McLennan, Scott M., Morris, Richard V., Graff, Trevor G., Mertzman, Stanley A., Ehlmann, Bethany L., Belgacem, Ines, Newsom, Horton, Clark, Ben C., Melikechi, Noureddine, Mezzacappa, Alissa, McInroy, Rhonda E., Martinez, Ronald, Gasda, Patrick, Gasnault, Olivier, and Maurice, Sylvestre. Recalibration of the Mars Science Laboratory ChemCam instrument with an expanded geochemical database. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1016/j.sab.2016.12.003.
Clegg, Samuel M., Wiens, Roger C., Anderson, Ryan, Forni, Olivier, Frydenvang, Jens, Lasue, Jeremie, Cousin, Agnes, Payré, Valérie, Boucher, Tommy, Dyar, M. Darby, McLennan, Scott M., Morris, Richard V., Graff, Trevor G., Mertzman, Stanley A., Ehlmann, Bethany L., Belgacem, Ines, Newsom, Horton, Clark, Ben C., Melikechi, Noureddine, Mezzacappa, Alissa, McInroy, Rhonda E., Martinez, Ronald, Gasda, Patrick, Gasnault, Olivier, & Maurice, Sylvestre. Recalibration of the Mars Science Laboratory ChemCam instrument with an expanded geochemical database. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2016.12.003
Clegg, Samuel M., Wiens, Roger C., Anderson, Ryan, Forni, Olivier, Frydenvang, Jens, Lasue, Jeremie, Cousin, Agnes, Payré, Valérie, Boucher, Tommy, Dyar, M. Darby, McLennan, Scott M., Morris, Richard V., Graff, Trevor G., Mertzman, Stanley A., Ehlmann, Bethany L., Belgacem, Ines, Newsom, Horton, Clark, Ben C., Melikechi, Noureddine, Mezzacappa, Alissa, McInroy, Rhonda E., Martinez, Ronald, Gasda, Patrick, Gasnault, Olivier, and Maurice, Sylvestre. 2016. "Recalibration of the Mars Science Laboratory ChemCam instrument with an expanded geochemical database". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2016.12.003. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1338777.
@article{osti_1338777,
title = {Recalibration of the Mars Science Laboratory ChemCam instrument with an expanded geochemical database},
author = {Clegg, Samuel M. and Wiens, Roger C. and Anderson, Ryan and Forni, Olivier and Frydenvang, Jens and Lasue, Jeremie and Cousin, Agnes and Payré, Valérie and Boucher, Tommy and Dyar, M. Darby and McLennan, Scott M. and Morris, Richard V. and Graff, Trevor G. and Mertzman, Stanley A. and Ehlmann, Bethany L. and Belgacem, Ines and Newsom, Horton and Clark, Ben C. and Melikechi, Noureddine and Mezzacappa, Alissa and McInroy, Rhonda E. and Martinez, Ronald and Gasda, Patrick and Gasnault, Olivier and Maurice, Sylvestre},
abstractNote = {The ChemCam Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity has obtained > 300,000 spectra of rock and soil analysis targets since landing at Gale Crater in 2012, and the spectra represent perhaps the largest publicly-available LIBS datasets. The compositions of the major elements, reported as oxides, have been re-calibrated using a laboratory LIBS instrument, Mars-like atmospheric conditions, and a much larger set of standards (408) that span a wider compositional range than previously employed. The new calibration uses a combination of partial least squares (PLS1) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) algorithms, together with a calibration transfer matrix to minimize differences between the conditions under which the standards were analyzed in the laboratory and the conditions on Mars. While the previous model provided good results in the compositional range near the average Mars surface composition, the new model fits the extreme compositions far better. Examples are given for plagioclase feldspars, where silicon was previously significantly over-estimated, and for calcium-sulfate veins, where silicon compositions near zero were inaccurate. Here, the uncertainties of major element abundances are described as a function of the abundances, and are overall significantly lower than the previous model, enabling important new geochemical interpretations of the data.},
doi = {10.1016/j.sab.2016.12.003},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1338777}, journal = {Spectrochimica Acta. Part B, Atomic Spectroscopy},
issn = {0584-8547},
number = C,
volume = 129,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Dec 24 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Sat Dec 24 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 112 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share:

Works referenced in this record:

The ChemCam Instrument Suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover: Science Objectives and Mast Unit Description
journal, July 2012


The ChemCam Instrument Suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover: Body Unit and Combined System Tests
journal, June 2012


Mars Science Laboratory Mission and Science Investigation
journal, July 2012


In situ evidence for continental crust on early Mars
journal, July 2015


Igneous mineralogy at Bradbury Rise: The first ChemCam campaign at Gale crater: IGNEOUS MINERALOGY AT BRADBURY RISE
journal, January 2014


Calcium sulfate veins characterized by ChemCam/Curiosity at Gale crater, Mars: CALCIUM SULFATE VEINS AT GALE CRATER
journal, September 2014


The Petrochemistry of Jake_M: A Martian Mugearite
journal, September 2013


Chemistry of fracture-filling raised ridges in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater: Window into past aqueous activity and habitability on Mars: Chemistry of raised ridges, Gale Crater
journal, November 2014


Soil Diversity and Hydration as Observed by ChemCam at Gale Crater, Mars
journal, September 2013


ChemCam activities and discoveries during the nominal mission of the Mars Science Laboratory in Gale crater, Mars
journal, January 2016


ChemCam: Chemostratigraphy by the First Mars Microprobe
journal, February 2015


Characterization of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for Application to Space Exploration
journal, March 2000


Multivariate analysis of remote laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy spectra using partial least squares, principal component analysis, and related techniques
journal, January 2009


Ceramic ChemCam Calibration Targets on Mars Science Laboratory
journal, May 2012


Geochemistry of Archean metasedimentary rocks from West Greenland
journal, January 1984


Rare earth element patterns in Archean high-grade metasediments and their tectonic significance
journal, October 1986


Geochemistry of Archean shales from the Pilbara Supergroup, Western Australia
journal, July 1983


Rare earth elements in Huronian (Lower Proterozoic) sedimentary rocks: Composition and evolution of the post-Kenoran upper crust
journal, March 1979


Early Proterozoic crustal evolution: Geochemical and NdPb isotopic evidence from metasedimentary rocks, southwestern North America
journal, March 1995


Rare earth element patterns and crustal evolution—I. Australian post-Archean sedimentary rocks
journal, December 1976


Characterization and Calibration of the CheMin Mineralogical Instrument on Mars Science Laboratory
journal, June 2012


Athena Mars rover science investigation: ATHENA MARS ROVER SCIENCE INVESTIGATION
journal, December 2003


Strategies for Mars remote Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy analysis of sulfur in geological samples
journal, January 2011


The Petrology and Geochemistry of St. Helena Alkali Basalts: Evaluation of the Oceanic Crust-recycling Model for HIMU OIB
journal, March 2011


Ultramafic inclusions from San Carlos, Arizona: Petrologic and geochemical data bearing on their petrogenesis
journal, February 1978


First detection of fluorine on Mars: Implications for Gale Crater's geochemistry: First detection of fluorine on Mars
journal, February 2015


Observation of > 5 wt % zinc at the Kimberley outcrop, Gale crater, Mars: ZN DETECTION AT KIMBERLEY WITH CHEMCAM
journal, March 2016


Planetary Geochemical Investigations Using Raman and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
journal, September 2014


Unmasking Multivariate Outliers and Leverage Points
journal, September 1990


General foundations for studying masking and swamping robustness of outlier identifiers
journal, September 2014


Independent component analysis, A new concept?
journal, April 1994


Nonlinear mapping technique for data visualization and clustering assessment of LIBS data: application to ChemCam data
journal, February 2011


Independent component analysis classification of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy spectra
journal, August 2013


A New Approach to Near-Infrared Spectral Data Analysis Using Independent Component Analysis
journal, May 2001


Independent component regression for seasonal climate prediction: an efficient way to improve multimodel ensembles
journal, March 2014


A new regression method based on independent component analysis
journal, May 2006


Independent component analysis and regression applied on sensory data
journal, January 2005


Detection of chlorine and fluorine in air by laser-induced breakdown spectrometry
journal, July 1983


Infomax and maximum likelihood for blind source separation
journal, April 1997


Detecting outliers: Do not use standard deviation around the mean, use absolute deviation around the median
journal, July 2013


A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars
journal, December 2013


Chemistry and texture of the rocks at Rocknest, Gale Crater: Evidence for sedimentary origin and diagenetic alteration: ROCKNEST CHEMISTRY AND TEXTURE
journal, September 2014


Chemical composition of Martian fines
journal, January 1982


Calibration of the Mars Science Laboratory Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
journal, April 2012


The new Athena alpha particle X-ray spectrometer for the Mars Exploration Rovers: NEW APXS FOR MER
journal, November 2003


Chemical variations in Yellowknife Bay formation sedimentary rocks analyzed by ChemCam on board the Curiosity rover on Mars
journal, March 2015


Works referencing / citing this record:

An interval of high salinity in ancient Gale crater lake on Mars
journal, October 2019


Mars Science Laboratory Observations of Chloride Salts in Gale Crater, Mars
journal, October 2019


Determination of copper-based mineral species by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and chemometric methods
journal, January 2019


Optical spectroscopy of laser-produced plasmas for standoff isotopic analysis
journal, June 2018


Martian Eolian Dust Probed by ChemCam
journal, October 2018


Characterization of Hydrogen in Basaltic Materials With Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy ( LIBS ) for Application to MSL ChemCam Data
journal, August 2018


Low‐level LIBS and Raman data fusion in the context of in situ Mars exploration
journal, June 2019


Mars Science Laboratory Observations of Chloride Salts in Gale Crater, Mars
journal, October 2019