Hans Erik Foss Amundsen

Vestfonna Geophysical A/S · Earth and Planetary Exploration Services

jats:p>The Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater, Mars, to investigate ancient lake and river deposits. We report observations of the crater floor, below the crater’s sedimentary delta, finding that the floor consists of igneous rocks altered by water. The lowest exposed unit, informally named Séítah, is a coarsely crystalline olivine-rich roc...

The Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater, Mars, to investigate ancient lake and river deposits. We report observations of the crater floor, below the crater’s sedimentary delta, finding the floor consists of igneous rocks altered by water. The lowest exposed unit, informally named Séítah, is a coarsely crystalline olivine-rich rock, which acc...

The Radar Imager for Mars Subsurface Experiment instrument has conducted the first rover-mounted ground-penetrating radar survey of the Martian subsurface. A continuous radar image acquired over the Perseverance rover's initial ~3-kilometer traverse reveals electromagnetic properties and bedrock stratigraphy of the Jezero crater floor to depths of...

We examine the observed properties of the Nili Fossae olivine-clay-carbonate lithology from orbital data and in situ by the Mars 2020 rover at the S\'e\'itah unit in Jezero crater, including: 1) composition (Liu, 2022) 2) grain size (Tice, 2022) 3) inferred viscosity (calculated based on geochemistry collected by SuperCam (Wiens, 2022)). Based on t...

Fresh craters provide an opportunity for close examination into the subsurface for landed missions. Adziilii crater is one of many fresh craters with extant ejecta within Jezero crater, the field site for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, formed in the unit termed Crater Floor- Fractured Rough (CF-Fr) which comprises much of the Jezero crater floor...

This study assesses how the ground penetrating radar RIMFAX will image the crater floor at the Mars 2020 landing site, where lithological compositions and stratigraphic relationships are under discussion prior to mission operation. A putative mafic unit (lava flow, volcanic ash or volcaniclastic deposit) on the crater floor will be crucial in pieci...

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landing site is located within Jezero crater, a ∼50km\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$\sim50~\mbox{km}$\end{document} dia...

The Radar Imager for Mars’ Subsurface Experiment (RIMFAX) is a Ground Penetrating Radar on the Mars 2020 mission’s Perseverance rover, which is planned to land near a deltaic landform in Jezero crater. RIMFAX will add a new dimension to rover investigations of Mars by providing the capability to image the shallow subsurface beneath the rover. The p...

This study presents the potential of ground penetrating radar modelling in Jezero Western Delta, where sedimentary formations are identified in the synthetic radargram by their characteristic radar facies. View poster: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/ninthmars2019/eposter/6070.pdf

An inversion model for the ultraslow-spreading Mohns Ridge, combining controlled source electromagnetic and magnetotelluric data, reveals passive mantle upwelling controlled by slow and asymmetric plate movements.

The International Mars Exploration Working Group (IMEWG) was formed in 1993 to provide a forum for the international coordination of Mars exploration. In 2007, IMEWG chartered the international Mars Architecture for the Return of Samples Working Group (iMARS WG), which produced a Phase 1 report in 2008 (iMARS, 2008). In 2014, IMEWG chartered an iMA...

The RIMFAX radar is a Gated-FMCW Ground Penetrating Radar to be on aboard the NASA Mars 2020 rover mission. The radar is operating from 150–1200 MHz and is using an Ultra Wideband Bow-Tie Slot antenna at 60 cm above the ground surface. Depending on ground conditions the radar has the ability to penetrate to more than 10 meters depth. First results...

The magmatic activity (0–16 Ma) in Iceland is linked to a deep mantle plume that has been active for the past 62 My. Icelandic and northeast Atlantic basalts contain variable proportions of two enriched components, interpreted as recycled oceanic crust supplied by the plume, and subcontinental lithospheric mantle derived from the nearby continental...

Abstract The characterization of any organic molecules on Mars is a top-priority objective for the ExoMars European Space Agency-Russian Federal Space Agency joint mission. The main instrument for organic analysis on the ExoMars rover is the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA). In preparation for the upcoming mission in 2018, different Mars analo...

The Laccadive–Chagos Ridge and Southern Mascarene Plateau in the north-central and western Indian Ocean, respectively, are thought to be volcanic chains formed above the Réunion mantle plume 1 over the past 65.5 million years 2,3 . Here we use U–Pb dating to analyse the ages of zircon xenocrysts found within young lavas on the island of Mauritius,...

The Laccadive-Chagos Ridge and Southern Mascarene Plateau in the north-central and western Indian Ocean, respectively, are thought to be volcanic chains formed above the Reunion mantle plume(1) over the past 65.5 million years(2,3). Here we use U-Pb dating to analyse the ages of zircon xenocrysts found within young lavas on the island of Mauritius,...

In this paper, we show a geochemical investigation of a natural coated basalt that demonstrates the capability of LIBS to produce 3-D chemical maps of targets.

The source and nature of carbon on Mars have been a subject of intense speculation. We report the results of confocal Raman imaging spectroscopy on 11 martian meteorites, spanning about 4.2 billion years of martian history. Ten of the meteorites contain abiotic macromolecular carbon (MMC) phases detected in association with small oxide grains inclu...

We performed in-situ imaging and spectral analysis of redbeds in Svalbard using prototypes of mission instruments. We evaluated synergies between optical/spectroscopic instruments and characterized red sandstones in a Mars analogue site.

Data from samples collected during the Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition show that MSL SAM-like evolved gas analyses can give constraints on sample organic chemistry, organic matter-mineral associations, and volatile-bearing minerals.

In order to reply to the exobiological goals of the 2018 MAX-C/ExoMars mission, the Orléans-OSUC analogue rock collection and database contains well characterised Mars analogue rocks and minerals for use in instrument testing and in situ missions.

The AMASE rover platform used to test instruments, sample acquisition, and caching systems for potential astrobiology and Mars sample return missions is described.

Carbonate from the Bockfjord volcanic complex on the island Spitsbergen (Svalbard, Norway) is a terrestrial analogue for the Comanche carbonate at Gusev Crater.

AMASE 2010 was the latest of a series of expeditions that bring NASA and ESA scientists and engineers together in a Mars analogue environment.

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The capability of the SAM instrument suite to measure δ13C of CO2 from thermal decomposition of carbonate was simulated using a Hiden EGA-MS system and a Picarro Cavity Ringdown CO2 isotope analyzer on the AMASE 2010 expedition to Svalbard, Norway.

Carbon and oxygen isotope data on Mars analog carbonates in the Bockfjord Volcanic Complex on Svalbard indicate that they formed by cryogenic processes during freezing of basalt hosted aquifers following subglacial eruptions.

A breadboard of the MOMA instrument (Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer, part of the ExoMars science payload) has been tested during the AMASE 2010 Svalbard expedition. This paper presents in-field acquired data on organic-rich shales.

An analog mission to test a coring and caching concept for Mars Sample Return (MAX-C) architecture.

Carbonates from volcanos in Svalbard, Norway are the best analogs for martian carbonates from the ALH 84001 meteorite, the Comanche carbonate at Gusev Crater, and the Nili Fossae carbonate. The mineralogy of these cements is described.

Carbonate data show that evolved gas analyses similar to those planned for the MSL SAM instrument suite can give constraints on sample organic chemistry, organic matter-mineral associations, and volatile-bearing minerals present at minor abundances.

The Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expeditions (AMASE) 2010 was the latest of a series of expeditions that are NASA ASTEP and ESA funded and have as their primary goals 1) testing portable instruments for their robustness as field instruments for life detection, 2) assessing Mars analogue environments for abiosignatures and biosignatures, 3) refinin...

Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition (AMASE) uses Mars analog field sites on the Arctic islands of Svalbard (Norway) for research within astrobiology and for testing of payload instruments onboard Mars missions Mars Science Laboratory, ExoMars and Mars Sample Return. AMASE 2009 marked the seventh consecutive year of field testing. Instrument shak...

The Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expeditions (AMASE) 2009 was the latest of a series of expeditions that are NASA and ESA funded and have as their primary goals.

Robotic implementation and testing of hardware for future Mars astrobiology mission through the AMASE 2009 field trials is described.

We are investigating the organic inventory and habitat conditions of near-surface (0-1.25 m depth) glacial ice.

Carbonate localities on the Sverefjell and Sigurdfjell volcanoes, Svalbard Norway, present themselves as compelling analog sites for the study of geologically ancient carbonate-precipitating hydrothermal systems (should they exist) on Mars.

The Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expeditions (AMASE) 2009 was the latest of a series of expeditions that are NASA ASTEP and ESA funded and have as among their primary goals sample acquisition, collection and caching on rover platforms.

To remotely control the drilling process, it is necessary to measure several drilling-fluid parameters automatically. This will increase objectivity of the measurements and make it possible to react to changes in real time. The current paper describes in detail the design for an integrated tool combination and the results of a full-size yard test o...

Analytical approaches to extant and extinct life detection involve molecular detection often at trace levels. Thus, removal of biological materials and other organic molecules from the surfaces of devices used for sampling is essential for ascertaining meaningful results. Organic decontamination to levels consistent with null values on life-detecti...

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We describe for the first time an abiotic organic synthesis mechanism on Mars from studies of ALH84001.

We describe the activities which took place on the Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expedition in 2007.

CheMin is the X-ray diffraction instrument on the NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover. A portable instrument called Terra was based on CheMin. The CheMin Science Team uses Terra instruments to practice field mineralogy in Mars analog terrains.

Summary Remote sensing of hydrocarbon reservoirs using controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys is a powerful tool in de-risking of exploration prospects. This study demonstrates how seabed logging (SBL) data acquired by Reliance was incorporated into the workflow in selection of drilling targets in the Krishna-Godavari basin resulting in a...

In order to prepare for future exploration of Mars, both by robotic and human missions, a number of Mars Analog studies are currently being carried out. In the high Canadian arctic the NASA Houghton Mars Project (HMP) is operating a station on Devon island that supports a geobiological science program but also supports an exploration program aimed...

Abstract— We report a comprehensive imaging study including confocal microRaman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 3-D extended focal imaging light microscopy of carbonate globules throughout a depth profile of the Martian meteorite Allan Hills (ALH) 84001 and similar objects in mantle peridotite xenoliths from the Bockfjorden vo...

Major advancements have been made in the past decades to determine the effects from particle additions to drilling fluids. These additions affect wellbore stability, hole cleaning, sag stability, formation damage and back-production capabilities. Furthermore, optimum drilling fluid performance is strongly dependent on knowing the properties of the...

This paper discusses how seabed logging (SBL) - A special CSEM technique developed by Statoil - can be interpreted on a standalone basis and integrated with seismic data. We go through interpretation techniques in which geologic reference areas are compared to the target area and introduce a depth-conversion technique that can be used in the initia...

NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is the next major landed Mars mission scheduled for Launch in 2009. MSL is primarily a geological mission intended to assess if past environments on Mars could have supported life. An X-ray diffraction instrument called CheMin is part of the MSL rover science payload. CheMin was developed and is managed by...

EVA was performed at lunar (Cinder Lakes, Arizona) and Mars (Spitsbergen) analogue sites. Handheld instrumentation provided rapid results and immediate feedback - important benefits for future crews located on the Moon and Mars.

This abstract summarizes the rover, space flight hardware testing and human rover interactions that took place on the Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expedition 2006 and will present the results of life detection analysis undertaken in this Mars analogue en

Precipitation of mineral aggregates near the Earth's surface or in subsurface fractures and cavities often produces complex microstructures and surface morphologies. Here we demonstrate how a simple surface normal growth (SNG) process may produce microstructures and surface morphologies very similar to those observed in some natural carbonate syste...

We have undertaken a comprehensive Raman microprobe study of a depth profile of ALH84001 and a terrestrial analogue. We find that ALH84001 globules contain hematite as well as magnetite. Macromolecular carbon is always associated with magnetite both in the carbonates and in the bulk matrix.

A new discovery of ornithopod dinosaur tracks from Svalbard is described. The Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) section at Isfjorden consists of sandstones and interbeds consistent with an alluvial flood plane. The newly discovered tracks are situated on two different horizons stratigraphi-cally below the original horizon found in 1960. Footprint eviden...

Mantle-derived carbonate inclusions are found in both terrestrial peridotites and Martian meteorites. Terrestrial subduction and melting of seafloor carbonates can explain the presence of the parent CO2-containing fluids for mantle carbonates, but the source for Martian carbonates is not as clear since at present there is little evidence for large-...

We describe raman and elemental composition of globules similar to those found in ALH84001. We appear to see direct evidence of zonation of carbonate, carbon and silicon phases within terrestrial olivine mantle xenoliths.

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Introduction: During August of 2003 an expedition including 19 scientists tested various equipment at a series of hot-springs sites on the island of Svalbard. This island is considered a Mars analogue environment due to the presence of hot springs, carbonate terraces and vol-canic activity which have produced carbonate rosettes similar to those fou...

Carbonate cemented lava breccias from NW Spisbergen show evidence of microbial activity within lava vesicles.

Along the Arctic ridges, mantle peridotites are tectonically exposed in the Molloy Deep and along the Gakkel Ridge. In the Arctic region, mantel peridotites are also present as xenolites in Quaternary volcanoes in the Bockfjord area on Spitsbergen -- approximately 150 km east of the Molloy Deep. These volcanic centres contain up to 15--20% of xenol...