Mineralogical exploration - Revision history

Michel Lamontagne at 17:33, 16 August 2023

2023-08-16T17:33:13Z

Michel Lamontagne: /* Exploration objectives */

2020-11-16T16:39:15Z

Exploration objectives

Michel Lamontagne: /* Exploration objectives */

2020-11-16T15:38:01Z

Exploration objectives

Michel Lamontagne at 14:31, 13 November 2020

2020-11-13T14:31:00Z

Michel Lamontagne at 17:27, 1 August 2019

2019-08-01T17:27:53Z

Michel Lamontagne at 17:23, 1 August 2019

2019-08-01T17:23:37Z

Michel Lamontagne at 17:40, 31 July 2019

2019-07-31T17:40:27Z

Michel Lamontagne: /* Mineralogical human exploration */

2019-07-31T16:40:40Z

Mineralogical human exploration

Michel Lamontagne: /* Exploration objectives */

2019-07-31T16:38:53Z

Exploration objectives

Michel Lamontagne: /* Exploration objectives */

2019-07-31T16:37:56Z

Exploration objectives

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:33, 16 August 2023
Line 23:		Line 23:
	*Clays		*Clays
	*Methane clathrates		*Methane clathrates
		+
		+	==Drilling==
		+	Surface mines will be the first and fastest to implement. Delimiting the volume of the resource is usually done by digging (surface) or drilling to discover the extend of the ore body. Drilling is time consuming and requires significant energy.
		+
		+	==Aerial and orbital exploration==
		+
		+
		+	==From exploration to exploitation==
		+	Exploiting a mine requires the mobilization of significant amounts of equipment. Financial resources are also required and the return on investment of the mine must be determined. For Mars, the cost must always be compared to the cost of transportation from Earth. For low density ores, it can become economical to ship from Earth rather then develop a local industry. The local market for some materials will be very small for a long time.

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 *[[Water]] ice
 *Concentrated minerals (iron oxides, copper oxides, alumina, Thorium, Uranium)
 *Pure salts (chlorine, lithium, sodium, potassium)
 *Iron meteorites (iron, nickel, cobalt, other metals in non oxidized forms)

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 *[[Water]] ice
-*Concentrated minerals (iron oxides, copper oxides, alumina)
+*Concentrated minerals (iron oxides, copper oxides, alumina, Thorium, Uranium)
 *Pure salts (chlorine, lithium, sodium, potassium)
 *Iron meteorites (iron, nickel, cobalt, other metals in non oxidized forms)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 13 November 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	Mineralogical exploration is already underway on Mars using the various rovers sent by the US and remote sensing from orbital probes. More intensive exploration can be carried out in the future using, first, dedicated rovers and then human explorers. Analysis could be carried out in-situ, but also in a well [[Research\|equipped lab]] at a ~~martian~~ base.[[File:Geologist.jpg\|thumb\|The Geologist. A hypothetical rover with remote controlled manipulator arms, sampling tools and sample storage for basic mineralogical exploration.\|alt=\|400x400px]]Mineralogical exploration will also be done in parallel with the search for life, as it will use the same exploration and manipulation tools, but, in part, different analysis equipment.[[File:Quad.jpg\|thumb\|Geologist rover reconfigured with a moving/rotating cabin for human exploration.\|alt=\|400x400px]]	+	Mineralogical exploration is already underway on Mars using the various rovers sent by the US and remote sensing from orbital probes. More intensive exploration can be carried out in the future using, first, dedicated rovers and then human explorers. Analysis could be carried out in-situ, but also in a well [[Research\|equipped lab]] at a Martian base.[[File:Geologist.jpg\|thumb\|The Geologist. A hypothetical rover with remote controlled manipulator arms, sampling tools and sample storage for basic mineralogical exploration.\|alt=\|400x400px]]Mineralogical exploration will also be done in parallel with the search for life, as it will use the same exploration and manipulation tools, but, in part, different analysis equipment. Exploration is a precursor step to [[mining]] on Mars.[[File:Quad.jpg\|thumb\|Geologist rover reconfigured with a moving/rotating cabin for human exploration.\|alt=\|400x400px]]

	==Mineralogical remote controlled rover==		==Mineralogical remote controlled rover==

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 A martian exploration mission will include some kind of mineralogical exploration rover. This vehicle will need to be able to extract samples and bring them back to a laboratory for analysis, or perform these analysis itself.  Probably battery powered, the vehicle would need to be able to connect itself to a power supply to recharge the batteries.  This would greatly increase the rapidity and capacities compared to existing rovers.
-[[File:Drill rig.jpg|thumb|General purpose rover configured with a drill rig and extensive exploration capabilities.  The rover can carry a large photovoltaic array to supply it with power and extend the range to the limit of the life support systems aboard.|alt=|400x400px]]
+[[File:Drill rig.jpg|thumb|General purpose rover configured with a drill rig and extensive exploration capabilities.  The rover can carry a large photo-voltaic array to supply it with power and extend the range to the limit of the life support systems aboard.|alt=|400x400px]]
 ==Mineralogical human exploration==
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 *Concentrated minerals (iron oxides, copper oxides, alumina)
 *Pure salts (chlorine, lithium, sodium, potassium)
-*Iron meteorites (iron, cobalt, other metals in non oxidized forms)
+*Iron meteorites (iron, nickel, cobalt, other metals in non oxidized forms)
 *Pure [[silica]] deposits
 *Carbonate deposits
 *Clays
 *Methane clathrates

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:23, 1 August 2019
Line 20:		Line 20:
	*Clays		*Clays
	*Methane clathrates		*Methane clathrates
−
−	~~{{Mars map}}~~

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:40, 31 July 2019
Line 20:		Line 20:
	*Clays		*Clays
	*Methane clathrates		*Methane clathrates
		+
		+	{{Mars map}}

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==Mineralogical human exploration==
-For fast exploration, a human presence will be vastly superior to robotic exploration.  Decisions can be made on the spot and manipulators can be controlled directly.
+For fast exploration, a human presence will be vastly superior to robotic exploration.  Decisions can be made on the spot and manipulators can be controlled directly.  Geology is both a objective and subjective science, and experienced geologists can obtain better results than untrained personnel or machines.
 ==Exploration objectives==

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 For fast exploration, a human presence will be vastly superior to robotic exploration.  Decisions can be made on the spot and manipulators can be controlled directly.
-== Exploration objectives ==
+==Exploration objectives==
 Minerals are available everywhere on Mars but in dilute forms.  The purpose of geological exploration will be to identify useful concentrations of minerals, for latter exploitation by the settlement.  The first objective will be to identify the cleanest water source possible, to reduce processing before use.  High concentrations of the following would be prime targets for research:
-* Water ice
+*Water ice
-* Concentrated minerals (iron oxides, copper oxides, alumina)
+*Concentrated minerals (iron oxides, copper oxides, alumina)
-* Pure salts (chlorine, lithium, sodium, potassium)
+*Pure salts (chlorine, lithium, sodium, potassium)
-* Iron meteorites (iron, cobalt, other metals in non oxidized forms)
+*Iron meteorites (iron, cobalt, other metals in non oxidized forms)
-* Pure silica deposits
+*Pure silica deposits
-* Carbonate deposits
+*Carbonate deposits
-* Clays
+*Clays
-* Methane clathrate
+*Methane clathrates