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Planetary science and exploration in the deep subsurface : results from the MINAR Program, Boulby Mine, UK

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Cousins_2016_IJA_Planetary_AAM.pdf (1.726Mb)
Date
04/2017
Author
Payler, Samuel J.
Biddle, Jennifer F.
Coates, Andrew J.
Cousins, Claire R.
Cross, Rachel E.
Cullen, David C.
Downs, Michael T.
Direito, Susana O. L.
Edwards, Thomas
Gray, Amber L.
Genis, Jac
Gunn, Matthew
Hansford, Graeme M.
Harkness, Patrick
Holt, John
Josset, Jean-Luc
Li, Xuan
Lees, David S.
Lim, Darlene S. S.
Mchugh, Melissa
Mcluckie, David
Meehan, Emma
Paling, Sean M.
Souchon, Audrey
Yeoman, Louise
Cockell, Charles S.
Keywords
Analog research
Deep subsurface
Habitability
Instrument testing
Spin-off
QH301 Biology
QB Astronomy
Space and Planetary Science
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
NDAS
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Abstract
The subsurface exploration of other planetary bodies can be used to unravel their geological history and assess their habitability. On Mars in particular, present-day habitable conditions may be restricted to the subsurface. Using a deep subsurface mine, we carried out a program of extraterrestrial analog research – MINe Analog Research (MINAR). MINAR aims to carry out the scientific study of the deep subsurface and test instrumentation designed for planetary surface exploration by investigating deep subsurface geology, whilst establishing the potential this technology has to be transferred into the mining industry. An integrated multi-instrument suite was used to investigate samples of representative evaporite minerals from a subsurface Permian evaporite sequence, in particular to assess mineral and elemental variations which provide small-scale regions of enhanced habitability. The instruments used were the Panoramic Camera emulator, Close-Up Imager, Raman spectrometer, Small Planetary Linear Impulse Tool, Ultrasonic drill and handheld X-ray diffraction (XRD). We present science results from the analog research and show that these instruments can be used to investigate in situ the geological context and mineralogical variations of a deep subsurface environment, and thus habitability, from millimetre to metre scales. We also show that these instruments are complementary. For example, the identification of primary evaporite minerals such as NaCl and KCl, which are difficult to detect by portable Raman spectrometers, can be accomplished with XRD. By contrast, Raman is highly effective at locating and detecting mineral inclusions in primary evaporite minerals. MINAR demonstrates the effective use of a deep subsurface environment for planetary instrument development, understanding the habitability of extreme deep subsurface environments on Earth and other planetary bodies, and advancing the use of space technology in economic mining.
Citation
Payler , S J , Biddle , J F , Coates , A J , Cousins , C R , Cross , R E , Cullen , D C , Downs , M T , Direito , S O L , Edwards , T , Gray , A L , Genis , J , Gunn , M , Hansford , G M , Harkness , P , Holt , J , Josset , J-L , Li , X , Lees , D S , Lim , D S S , Mchugh , M , Mcluckie , D , Meehan , E , Paling , S M , Souchon , A , Yeoman , L & Cockell , C S 2017 , ' Planetary science and exploration in the deep subsurface : results from the MINAR Program, Boulby Mine, UK ' , International Journal of Astrobiology , vol. 16 , no. 2 , pp. 114-129 . https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550416000045
Publication
International Journal of Astrobiology
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550416000045
ISSN
1473-5504
Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016. This work is 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 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1473550416000045
Description
The authors would also like to acknowledge the funding provided by the STFC Impact Acceleration Fund. Claire R. Cousins is supported by a Royal Society of Edinburgh Research Fellowship. The development of the ExoMars PanCam, the AUPE2 system and the PanCam data processing pipeline has been supported by funding from the UK Space Agency (lead funding agency) and the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program.
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/9686

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