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UV luminescence characterisation of organics in Mars-analogue substrates

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Date
15/03/2019
Author
Laurent, B.
Cousins, C.R.
Gunn, M.
Huntly, C.
Cross, R.
Allender, E.
Funder
The Leverhulme Trust
The Royal Society of Edinburgh
Grant ID
RPG-2015-071
Keywords
UV luminescence
Mars
Analogue
Spectroscopy
Organic
GE Environmental Sciences
QC Physics
NDAS
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Abstract
Detection of organic matter is one of the core objectives of future Mars exploration. The ability to probe rocks, soils, and other geological substrates for organic targets is a high priority for in situ investigation, sample caching, and sample return. UV luminescence – the emission of visible light following UV irradiation – is a tool that is beginning to be harnessed for planetary exploration. We conducted  UV photoluminescence analyses of (i) Mars analogue sediments doped with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; <15 ppm), (ii) carbonaceous CM chondrites and terrestrial kerogen (Type IV), and (iii) synthetic salt crystals doped with PAHs (2 ppm). We show that that detection of PAHs is possible within synthetic and natural gypsum, and synthetic halite. These substrates show the most apparent spectral modifications, suggesting that the most transparent minerals are more conducive to UV photoluminescence detection of trapped organic matter. Iron oxide, ubiquitously present on Mars surface, hampers but does not completely quench the UV luminescence emission. Finally, the maturity of organic carbonaceous material influences the luminescence response, resulting in a reduced signal for UV excitation wavelengths down to 225 nm. This study demonstrates the utility of UV luminescence spectroscopy for the analysis of mixed organic-inorganic materials applicable to Mars exploration.
Citation
Laurent , B , Cousins , C R , Gunn , M , Huntly , C , Cross , R & Allender , E 2019 , ' UV luminescence characterisation of organics in Mars-analogue substrates ' , Icarus , vol. 321 , pp. 929-937 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2018.12.031
Publication
Icarus
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2018.12.031
ISSN
0019-1035
Type
Journal article
Rights
Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2018.12.031
Description
This project was supported by a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant (RPG-2015-071). C Cousins also wishes to acknowledge funding by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/19154

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