Planetary science and exploration in the deep subsurface: results from the MINAR Program, Boulby Mine, UK
Planetary science and exploration in the deep subsurface: results from the MINAR Program, Boulby Mine, UK
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DOI：
10.1017/s1473550416000045
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发表时间：
2016-04
影响因子：
1.7
通讯作者：
S. Payler;J. Biddle;A. Coates;C. Cousins;Rachel E. Cross;D. Cullen;M. Downs;S. Direito;Tom Edwards;Amber L. Gray;Jac Genis;M. Gunn;G. Hansford;P. Harkness;J. Holt;J. Josset;Xuan Li;D. Lees;D. Lim;M. Mchugh;David Mcluckie;E. Meehan;S. Paling;A. Souchon;L. Yeoman;C. Cockell
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文献类型：
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作者：
S. Payler;J. Biddle;A. Coates;C. Cousins;Rachel E. Cross;D. Cullen;M. Downs;S. Direito;Tom Edwards;Amber L. Gray;Jac Genis;M. Gunn;G. Hansford;P. Harkness;J. Holt;J. Josset;Xuan Li;D. Lees;D. Lim;M. Mchugh;David Mcluckie;E. Meehan;S. Paling;A. Souchon;L. Yeoman;C. Cockell
摘要对其他行星体的地下探测可以用来揭示它们的地质历史和评估它们的可居住性。特别是在火星上，现今的可居住条件可能仅限于地下。利用一个深地下矿井，我们进行了一项外星模拟研究计划- MINe模拟研究（MINAR）。MINAR旨在通过调查深层地下地质，对深层地下进行科学研究，并为行星表面勘探设计测试仪器，同时确定该技术必须转移到采矿业的潜力。一个综合的多仪器套件被用来调查样品的代表性蒸发岩矿物从地下二叠纪蒸发岩序列，特别是评估矿物和元素的变化，提供小规模的区域增强的可居住性。使用的仪器是全景相机模拟器、特写成像仪、拉曼光谱仪、小型行星线性脉冲工具、超声波钻和手持式X射线衍射仪。我们目前的模拟研究的科学结果表明，这些仪器可用于现场调查的地质背景和矿物学变化的深层地下环境，从而可居住性，从毫米到米尺度。我们还表明，这些工具是互补的。例如，用便携式拉曼光谱仪难以检测的原生蒸发岩矿物如NaCl和KCl的鉴定可以用XRD完成。相比之下，拉曼在定位和检测原生蒸发岩矿物中的矿物包裹体方面非常有效。MINAR演示了如何有效利用深地下环境进行行星仪器开发，了解地球和其他行星上极端深地下环境的可居住性，并推动空间技术在经济采矿中的应用。
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.