C. A. Knudson
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View article: Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Xenoliths and Phreatomagmatic Deposits in Potrillo Volcanic Field, New Mexico, Determined from Portable Instruments: Applications to Surface Exploration of the Moon and Mars
Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Xenoliths and Phreatomagmatic Deposits in Potrillo Volcanic Field, New Mexico, Determined from Portable Instruments: Applications to Surface Exploration of the Moon and Mars Open
Instruments that yield information about the mineralogy and chemistry of surface materials will be part of future robotic and human exploration of the Moon and Mars. Accurate interpretation of such data can be informed by coordinated analy…
View article: Molecular biosignatures in planetary analogue salts: implications for transport of organics in sulfate-rich brines beyond Earth
Molecular biosignatures in planetary analogue salts: implications for transport of organics in sulfate-rich brines beyond Earth Open
Salt minerals precipitated during evaporation or freezing of brines can capture organic and geochemical biosignatures, preserving crucial information about the aqueous environment at the time of their formation [1]. Such salts are prevalen…
View article: Environmental Changes Recorded in Sedimentary Rocks in the Clay‐Sulfate Transition Region in Gale Crater, Mars: Results From the Sample Analysis at Mars‐Evolved Gas Analysis Instrument Onboard the Mars Science Laboratory <i>Curiosity</i> Rover
Environmental Changes Recorded in Sedimentary Rocks in the Clay‐Sulfate Transition Region in Gale Crater, Mars: Results From the Sample Analysis at Mars‐Evolved Gas Analysis Instrument Onboard the Mars Science Laboratory <i>Curiosity</i> Rover Open
The Curiosity rover explored the region between the orbitally defined phyllosilicate‐bearing Glen Torridon trough and the overlying layered sulfate‐bearing unit, called the “clay‐sulfate transition region.” Samples were drilled from the to…
View article: Molecular biosignatures in planetary analogue salts: implications for transport of organics in sulfate-rich brines beyond Earth
Molecular biosignatures in planetary analogue salts: implications for transport of organics in sulfate-rich brines beyond Earth Open
Salts formed during evaporation or freezing of brines can potentially incorporate organic matter that can inform about past biological activity. We analysed the lipid fraction preserved within the contemporary Lost Hammer salt deposit (Can…
View article: Hydrogen Chloride and Sulfur Dioxide Gas Evolutions from the Reaction between Mg Sulfate and NaCl: Implications for the Sample Analysis at the Mars Instrument in Gale Crater, Mars
Hydrogen Chloride and Sulfur Dioxide Gas Evolutions from the Reaction between Mg Sulfate and NaCl: Implications for the Sample Analysis at the Mars Instrument in Gale Crater, Mars Open
The Sample Analysis at Mars-Evolved Gas Analyzer (SAM-EGA) on the Curiosity rover detected hydrogen chloride (HCl) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas evolutions above 600 °C and 700 °C, respectively, from several drilled rock and soil samples co…
View article: Leveraging open science machine learning challenges for data constrained planetary mission instruments
Leveraging open science machine learning challenges for data constrained planetary mission instruments Open
We set up two open-science machine learning (ML) challenges focusing on building models to automatically analyse mass spectrometry (MS) data for Mars exploration. ML challenges provide an excellent way to engage a diverse set of experts wi…
View article: Spectroscopic comparisons of two different terrestrial basaltic environments: Exploring the correlation between nitrogen compounds and biomolecular signatures
Spectroscopic comparisons of two different terrestrial basaltic environments: Exploring the correlation between nitrogen compounds and biomolecular signatures Open
View article: Extreme Niche Partitioning and Microbial Dark Matter in a Mauna Loa Lava Tube
Extreme Niche Partitioning and Microbial Dark Matter in a Mauna Loa Lava Tube Open
Lava tubes are key targets in the search for life on Mars. Their basaltic walls provide protection from radiation and changing environmental conditions, which could enable life or preservation of previous life in an otherwise harsh environ…
View article: Diagnostic biosignature transformation under simulated martian radiation in organic-rich sedimentary rocks
Diagnostic biosignature transformation under simulated martian radiation in organic-rich sedimentary rocks Open
As we look for traces of ancient life on Mars, we need to consider the impact of ionizing radiation in the biosignature preservation process. Here, we irradiated two organic rich terrestrial samples (Enspel and Messel shales) that have Mar…
View article: Evolved Gas Analyses of Sedimentary Rocks From the Glen Torridon Clay‐Bearing Unit, Gale Crater, Mars: Results From the Mars Science Laboratory Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Suite
Evolved Gas Analyses of Sedimentary Rocks From the Glen Torridon Clay‐Bearing Unit, Gale Crater, Mars: Results From the Mars Science Laboratory Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Suite Open
Evolved gas analysis (EGA) data from the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite indicated Fe‐rich smectite, carbonate, oxidized organics, Fe/Mg sulfate, and chloride in sedimentary rocks from the Glen Torridon (GT) region of Gale c…
View article: Searching for mineralogical evidence for the clay-sulfate transition region in Gale crater, Mars using the Sample Analysis at Mars-Evolved Gas Analyzer (SAM-EGA) onboard the <i>Curiosity </i>rover
Searching for mineralogical evidence for the clay-sulfate transition region in Gale crater, Mars using the Sample Analysis at Mars-Evolved Gas Analyzer (SAM-EGA) onboard the <i>Curiosity </i>rover Open
View article: Pyrolysis of Oxalate, Acetate, and Perchlorate Mixtures and the Implications for Organic Salts on Mars
Pyrolysis of Oxalate, Acetate, and Perchlorate Mixtures and the Implications for Organic Salts on Mars Open
Organic salts, such as Fe, Ca, and Mg oxalates and acetates, may be widespread radiolysis and oxidation products of organic matter in Martian surface sediments. Such organic salts are challenging to identify by evolved gas analysis but the…
View article: Building Safer and More Inclusive Field Experiences in Support of Planetary Science
Building Safer and More Inclusive Field Experiences in Support of Planetary Science Open
Field expeditions in support of planetary science are important to advance our understanding of planetary processes and enhance the science community through training and close, often interdisciplinary collaborative efforts.Still, field wo…
View article: Organic Molecules Detected with the First TMAH Wet Chemistry Experiment, Gale Crater, Mars
Organic Molecules Detected with the First TMAH Wet Chemistry Experiment, Gale Crater, Mars Open
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View article: Investigation of the Glen Torridon Clay-Bearing Unit and Overlying Greenheugh Pediment by the Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Suite
Investigation of the Glen Torridon Clay-Bearing Unit and Overlying Greenheugh Pediment by the Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Suite Open
International audience
View article: Fatty Acid Preservation in Modern and Relict Hot-Spring Deposits in Iceland, with Implications for Organics Detection on Mars
Fatty Acid Preservation in Modern and Relict Hot-Spring Deposits in Iceland, with Implications for Organics Detection on Mars Open
Hydrothermal spring deposits host unique microbial ecosystems and have the capacity to preserve microbial communities as biosignatures within siliceous sinter layers. This quality makes terrestrial hot springs appealing natural laboratorie…
View article: Benzoic Acid as the Preferred Precursor for the Chlorobenzene Detected on Mars: Insights from the Unique Cumberland Analog Investigation
Benzoic Acid as the Preferred Precursor for the Chlorobenzene Detected on Mars: Insights from the Unique Cumberland Analog Investigation Open
The Cumberland drill sample from the Sheepbed mudstone in Gale Crater, Mars, revealed the first evidence of an indigenous Martian organic molecule, chlorobenzene, with the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on Curiosity. We created i…
View article: Detection of Reduced Sulfur on Vera Rubin Ridge by Quadratic Discriminant Analysis of Volatiles Observed During Evolved Gas Analysis
Detection of Reduced Sulfur on Vera Rubin Ridge by Quadratic Discriminant Analysis of Volatiles Observed During Evolved Gas Analysis Open
The Mars Science Laboratory mission investigated Vera Rubin ridge, which bears spectral indications of elevated amounts of hematite and has been hypothesized as having a complex diagenetic history. Martian samples, including three drilled …
View article: Constraints on the Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Mars, From Mars Science Laboratory Sample Analysis at Mars Evolved Gas Analyses
Constraints on the Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Mars, From Mars Science Laboratory Sample Analysis at Mars Evolved Gas Analyses Open
Vera Rubin ridge (VRR) is a topographic high within the layers of Mount Sharp, Gale crater, that exhibits a strong hematite spectral signature from orbit. The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover carried out a comprehensive investigatio…
View article: New Insights from the Cumberland Analog Investigation: Benzoic Acid as the Preferred Precursor for Chlorobenzene Detected on Mars
New Insights from the Cumberland Analog Investigation: Benzoic Acid as the Preferred Precursor for Chlorobenzene Detected on Mars Open
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View article: Analyzing the Organic Chemistry of Hesperian Mars
Analyzing the Organic Chemistry of Hesperian Mars Open
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View article: Lipid Biomarkers in Ephemeral Acid Salt Lake Mudflat/Sandflat Sediments: Implications for Mars
Lipid Biomarkers in Ephemeral Acid Salt Lake Mudflat/Sandflat Sediments: Implications for Mars Open
Sedimentary strata on Mars often contain a mix of sulfates, iron oxides, chlorides, and phyllosilicates, a mineral assemblage that is unique on Earth to acid brine environments. To help characterize the astrobiological potential of deposit…
View article: Indigenous and exogenous organics and surface–atmosphere cycling inferred from carbon and oxygen isotopes at Gale crater
Indigenous and exogenous organics and surface–atmosphere cycling inferred from carbon and oxygen isotopes at Gale crater Open
View article: Cumberland and Rocknest analogues near-infrared and LIBS measurements compared to MSL
Cumberland and Rocknest analogues near-infrared and LIBS measurements compared to MSL Open
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View article: Cumberland and Rocknest Analog Near-Infrared Reflectance Measurements
Cumberland and Rocknest Analog Near-Infrared Reflectance Measurements Open
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View article: Recovery of Fatty Acids from Mineralogic Mars Analogs by TMAH Thermochemolysis for the Sample Analysis at Mars Wet Chemistry Experiment on the Curiosity Rover
Recovery of Fatty Acids from Mineralogic Mars Analogs by TMAH Thermochemolysis for the Sample Analysis at Mars Wet Chemistry Experiment on the Curiosity Rover Open
The Mars Curiosity rover carries a diverse instrument payload to characterize habitable environments in the sedimentary layers of Aeolis Mons. One of these instruments is Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM), which contains a mass spectrometer th…
View article: The Characterization and Development of a Mineralogical Analog of the MSL Cumberland Drill Sample for Organic Molecule Identification in SAM-Like Experiments
The Characterization and Development of a Mineralogical Analog of the MSL Cumberland Drill Sample for Organic Molecule Identification in SAM-Like Experiments Open
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View article: Preparation for the SAM TMAH Wet Chemistry Experiment Onboard Curiosity: Detection in Mars-Analog Rocks and Candidate Locations for the In Situ Experiment on Mars
Preparation for the SAM TMAH Wet Chemistry Experiment Onboard Curiosity: Detection in Mars-Analog Rocks and Candidate Locations for the In Situ Experiment on Mars Open
International audience
View article: The Incorporation of Field Portable Instrumentation Into Human Planetary Surface Exploration
The Incorporation of Field Portable Instrumentation Into Human Planetary Surface Exploration Open
Field portable instrumentation, such as in situ geochemical analyzers or broader field of view instruments like multispectral imagers or other imaging capabilities, has the potential to dramatically increase the science return of a planeta…
View article: Major Volatiles Evolved From Eolian Materials in Gale Crater
Major Volatiles Evolved From Eolian Materials in Gale Crater Open
The Sample Analysis at Mars on the Curiosity rover analyzed the major volatile content of four eolian samples at three locations in Gale crater. The Rocknest sample was taken from an inactive sand shadow with a significant component of dus…