0000000000486230
AUTHOR
D. Schmanke
Raman-Mössbauer-XRD studies of selected samples from “Los Azulejos” outcrop: A possible analogue for assessing the alteration processes on Mars
The outcrop of “Los Azulejos” is visible at the interior of the Cañadas Caldera in Tenerife Island (Spain). It exhibits a great variety of alteration processes that could be considered as terrestrial analogue for several geological processes on Mars. This outcrop is particularly interesting due to the content of clays, zeolite, iron oxides, and sulfates corresponding to a hydrothermal alteration catalogued as “Azulejos” type alteration. A detailed analysis by portable and laboratory Raman systems as well as other different techniques such as X ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy has been carried out (using twin-instruments from Martian lander missions: Mössbauer spectrometer MI…
Changes in the Three Dimensional Structure of Synaptic Ribbons in the Pineal Gland of the Guinea-Pig Caused by Constant Light
Synaptic bodies (SBs) are dynamic synaptic organelles of afferent synapses of the retina, inner ear, lateral line organ and pineal gland in vertebrates. When investigated in a transmission electron microscope, their electron-dense rod-like, round or irregular profiles are surrounded by electron-lucent vesicles. The three-dimensional structure of pineal SBs is not precisely known. Pineal glands of two guinea-pigs (one kept under an LD cycle of 12:12 h; one kept in constant light for 8 weeks) were investigated. SBs were reconstructed in three dimensions to visualise morphological changes in constant light. Transmission electron microscope micrographs from up to 18 serial sections with a known…
In-situ Mössbauer Spectroscopy with MIMOS II at Rio Tinto, Spain
The Rio Tinto, located in southwest Spain, exhibits a nearly constant, acidic pHvalue along its course. Due to the formation of sulfate minerals, Rio Tinto is considered a potential analogue site for sulfate-rich regions on Mars, in particular at the landing site of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, where the ferric sulfate mineral jarosite was identified with Opportunity's Mössbauer spectrometer. Primary and secondary mineralogy was investigated in situ with portable Raman and Mössbauer spectrometers at four different Rio Tinto sampling sites. The two techniques analyse different sample portions due to their specific field of view and sampling depth and provide complementar…
APXS and MIMOS IIA: Planetary and terrestrial applications
Both Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the Miniaturized Moessbauer Spectrometer (MIMOS II) have shown their performances in space missions and terrestrial applications. Taking advantage of the challenges of space missions both instruments have become very powerful tools, even small in mass and dimensions.