Julene Aramendia

University of the Basque Country | UPV/EHU · Analytical Chemistry

The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument onboard the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover detected so far some of the most intense fluorescence signals in association with sulfates analyzing abraded patches of rocks at Jezero crater, Mars. To assess the plausibility of an organic origin...

This work describes the diagnostic study on the building materials, mostly carbonated, belonging to Santa Maria Cathedral and the Medieval Wall of Vitoria‐Gasteiz (Spain) with the aim to design the best conservation procedure. Both the studies of the lithology and the secondary compounds originated by environmental impacts on the Cathedral and on t...

The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument onboard the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover detected so far some of the most intense fluorescence signals in association with sulfates analyzing abraded patches of rocks at Jezero crater, Mars. To assess the plausibility of an organic origin...

Planetary exploration relies considerably on mineral characterization to advance our understanding of the solar system, the planets and their evolution. Thus, we must understand past and present processes that can alter materials exposed on the surface, affecting space mission data. Here, we analyze the first dataset monitoring the evolution of a k...

This 1:30,000 scale geological map describes Oxia Planum, Mars, the landing site for the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover mission. The map represents our current understanding of bedrock units and their relationships prior to Rosalind Franklin’s exploration of this location. The map details 15 bedrock units organised into 6 groups and 7 textural and...

The analysis of Martian meteorites is a key research to understand the mineralogical composition of Mars. However, they suffer different types of alteration due to the environment where they fall on Earth. These differences should be identified in order to characterize correctly the original Martian compounds. Most of the meteorites found on Earth...

Cuatro entidades nacionales, la Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), el Centro Tecnológico Lurederra de Navarra, la empresa de restauración Garanza (Madrid) y el Centro Tecnológico CTC de Cantabria, colaboran en este proyecto de carácter multidisciplinar que aborda la conservación del patrimonio cultural a través del desarrollo de innovadoras meto...

In this work, some micro-samples belonging to the open-air rock art site of Cueva de la Vieja (Alpera, Albacete, Spain) were analysed. These samples were collected after and before a desalination treatment was carried out, with the aim of removing a whitish layer of concretion that affected the painted panel. The diagnostic study was performed to s...

In this work, some micro-samples belonging to the open-air rock art site of Cueva de la Vieja (Alpera, Albacete, Spain) were analysed. These samples were collected after and before a desalination treatment carried out with the aim of removing a whitish layer of concretion that affected the painted panel. The diagnostic study was performed to study...

In this work, a geological sample of great astrobiological interest was studied through analytical techniques that are currently operating in situ on Mars and others that will operate in the near future. The sample analyzed consisted of an oncoid, which is a type of microbialite, collected in the Salar Carachi Pampa, Argentina. The main peculiarity...

A fragment of the NWA 2975 Martian meteorite, an enriched basaltic shergottite, was analysed to complete its geochemical characterisation performed 10 years ago. By this means, the feasibility of the employed techniques in a combined way for present and future space exploration missions can be tested. For this aim, Raman spectroscopy was used suppo...

In this work, the geochemical characterization of the olivine‐phyric Martian shergottite LAR 12095 was performed by using two complementary analytical techniques: micro‐Raman and micro‐energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopies. Thanks to this methodology, olivine, pyroxene, and ilmenite were detected as primary minerals from Mars. Maskely...

Raman spectra (532 nm diode laser) of gypsum, syngenite and görgeyite powders were studied from 273 to 83 K every −10 K. Although it was found that not all the Raman peaks are temperature-sensitive, the effect of temperature on the Raman signal of some bands was modelled. It was observed that the main bands of the three sulfates shift toward higher...

Diverse criteria or parameters have been cited as tools to determine the maturity of carbonaceous matter (CM) found in geologic samples using Raman spectroscopy. However, these approaches involve the mathematical decomposition of Raman bands which can vary with the specific method, the software employed, or even the individual user. Data should be...

The presence of olivine and its geochemical composition (forsterite/fayalite ratio) are relevant factors for the study of Mars. The use of Raman spectrometers in the Mars2020 and future missions opens new possibilities to assess the Mg/Fe ratios in the analysed olivine bearing rocks. On the one hand, its presence indicates approximately where and w...

The Mars Sample Return (MSR) is a near future mission to return samples from the surface of Mars to the Earth. The field operations to carry out data collection, selection of the samples and sampling procedure, mainly related to The CanMars Mars Sample Return analogue mission, are well‐studied and published. In contrast, studies related to the meth...

Este Libro recoge las actas del III Congreso Internacional de Antropología de la Sal celebrado en el año 2018 en el Valle Salado de Salinas de Añana (País Vasco. España). Se publican un total de 63 artículos escritos por los expertos de los 14 países diferentes que participaron. Durante el Congreso, Europa estuvo representada por investigadores de...

The SuperCam instrument, onboard the Perseverance rover (Mars 2020 mission) is designed to perform remote analysis on the Martian surface employing several spectroscopic techniques such as Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman (TRR), Time-Resolved Fluorescence (TRF) and Visible and Infrared (VISIR) reflectance. In additio...

NorthWest Africa 10628 (NWA 10628) is a shergottite found in Tindouf (Algeria) in 2014. Little is known on this meteorite apart from the Meteoritical Bulletin report. In this work, original and altered mineral phases of NWA 10628 were characterised by micro‐Raman spectroscopy assisted with micro‐energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence imaging. The mat...

The study of space has always been a field of great interest and thus space missions are becoming more and more ambitious with time. Therefore, with the 50th anniversary of the first spacecraft to land on Mars, a review about how traditional analytical techniques have been adapted to the era of in situ space exploration is presented. From the Vikin...

Martian meteorites and terrestrial analogs represent the only samples available on Earth for studying mineralogy features of our neighbor planet Mars. This work characterizes the Roberts Massif (RBT) 04262 Martian meteorite by using mainly Raman spectroscopy. By means of this technique, it was confirmed that the meteorite matrix is composed by pyro...

The non-destructive spectroscopic characterization of airborne particulate matter (PM) was performed to gain better knowledge of the internal structures of atmospheric aerosols at the particle level in the Antarctic region, along with their potential sources. PM and soil samples were collected during the 2016-2017 austral summer season at the surro...

A multianalytical study was proposed for the study of late-gothic wall paintings preserved inside the Romanic church of Saint Ementerio and Saint Celedonio of Goikolexea (Basque Country, Spain), erected in the 15th century and then renewed in the 17th. Raman spectroscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence was used in the in situ anal...

Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are fundamental biochemical components of all life on Earth and, presumably, life elsewhere in our solar system. Detection and characterization of these compounds by traditional solvent extraction, chromatographic separation, and GC-MS analysis require more sample mass than will be available from samples r...

Calcium sulfates are known to be potential reservoirs of organic compounds and have been detected on Mars. However, not all data that indicate the presence of sulfates collected by the (Mars Exploration Rovers: Spirit and Opportunity) and Curiosity rovers can be explained by the different calcium sulfate polymorphs, and therefore, mixtures of calci...

The landing site of the next planetary mission lead by ESA (ExoMars 2022) will be Oxia Planum. This location has been chosen due to different reasons, among them, the existence of sedimentary rocks that could host remains of organic matter. The fact that this type of rocks coexists with volcanic ones makes of high importance the study of the proces...

Cultural heritage often brings to mind elements like sculptures, paintings, monuments, and buildings as well as archeological objects. Today, underwater heritage and its surrounding environment are also considered part of cultural heritage because communities identify themselves with the natural landscape. This study is focused on a shipwreck belon...

SuperCam is a highly integrated remote-sensing instrumental suite for NASA’s Mars 2020 mission. It consists of a co-aligned combination of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman and Luminescence (TRR/L), Visible and Infrared Spectroscopy (VISIR), together with sound recording (MIC) and high-magnification imaging techniques...

This work proposes an innovative non-destructive analytical strategy, based on Confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy, High Resolution Raman Imaging and micro-X-Ray Fluorescence imaging, as part of the quick non-destructive techniques that could be used to characterize the Martian samples from the Mars Sample Return mission when back on Earth. Until tha...

In this work, an innovative non-destructive monitoring methodology based on the analysis over time of open-air rock art sites is presented. This approach is based on the combination of in situ spectroscopic and chemometric studies to diagnose and monitor the state of conservation of rock art sites. Data acquired over a period of time by non-invasiv...

Libyan Desert Glasses (LDGs) and Darwin Glasses (DGs) are impact glasses produced by the impact of an extraterrestrial body into the Earth million years ago. LDGs were formed in the Libyan Desert (Africa) and DGs in Tasmania (Australia). From their formation, they have suffered terrestrial weathering processes due to their interaction with the envi...

Hazardous elements are usually incorporated in natural fresh waters forming inorganic compounds or adsorbed onto organic matter as insoluble compounds in suspended particulate matters (SPMs). Considering the predominant transport of SPMs during heavy rainfalls, storms, or snow melting, such events require deep and exhaustive research to evaluate th...

Marteko iraganeko lurzoruan agerian utzitako ur-likidoaren aztarna geomorfologikoak noizbait izandako bizigarritasun-baldintzetara aditzera ematen du eta honek, bizitzari buruzko galderak egitera. Horretarako 2020. urtean ESA-k eta NASA-k Martera ibilgailu robotiko bana bidaliko dute. Beraz, lortutako emaitzak ulertzeko eta interpretatzeko lurreko...

The European Space Agency will launch the ExoMars Martian mission in 2020, which will study traces of water activity through the geological history of Mars, as water would mean potential presence of life. In this sense, silicates, and more concretely phyllosilicates, are among the most relevant mineral phases to be studied on the Martian surface at...

The necessity to create databases for the proper interpretation of the results obtained by the rovers that will be sent by ESA to Mars implies the study of terrestrial Martian analogues. In this work, the Meñakoz outcrops, which are basaltic volcanic rocks interbedded with Turonian sediments coming from a Cretaceous submarine volcano outcrop locate...

Underwater Cultural Heritage understands all traces of human existence having a cultural, historical, or archaeological character, which have been partially or totally underwater, in periodic or continuous forms for at least 100 years, according to UNESCO. This work is focused on two pieces extracted in 1999 from a shipwreck located in Bakio (Basqu...

Quantification with nondestructive techniques is not very well developed in the field of Cultural Heritage despite its interest. In the last decades, several works have been published using Raman spectroscopy for quantifying. However, depending on the methodology used, the information provided by this technique is not complete, and the results coul...

The application of a non-destructive analytical procedure to characterise the mineral phases in meteorites is a key issue in order to preserve this type of scarce materials. In the present work, the Elephant Moraine 83227 meteorite, found in Antarctica in 1983 and originated from 4 Vesta asteroid, was analysed by micro-Raman spectroscopy, micro-ene...

Impact glasses are rich silica melted formed at high temperature and pressure by the impact of an extraterrestrial body on Earth. Here, Libyan Desert glasses (LDGs) and Darwin glasses (DGs) were studied. Two non-destructive analytical techniques were used to detect and characterize organic compounds present in their inclusions: Raman spectroscopy a...

This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary research based on the use of different diagnostic techniques for the study of wall paintings that belong to the late Gothic period and are preserved in the church of Saint Stephen in Ribera de Valderejo (Álava, Basque Country). Portable Raman and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy measurements car...

This study proposes an innovative approach to semi-quantify the main iron corrosion phases found in corrosion systems of archaeological artefacts. This method is based on the treatment of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) data using a homemade spectra decomposition software (PALME). Its application was first tested on mixtures of pure...

The study of fragile artworks kept in museums requires mobile devices, short time of analysis and minimal disturbance to insure their good preservation. In situ reflectance spectroscopy and spectrofluorimetric studies are mostly developed for pigment characterization. A recently-designed μspectrofluorimeter (LED μSF) dedicated to in situ measuremen...

The natural weathering of EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) and LF (Ladle Furnace) steel slag was evaluated through changes in the mineralogical and elemental composition. For that purpose, black steel slag and mixture of black and white steel slag were collected from two forest tracks, where they had been used as filler 19 and 35years ago respectively in...

The reuse of waste is increasingly widespread in order to avoid the exploitation of natural resources and to reduce costs. An example of that reuse is the employment of steel slag, a by-product from the steel making process. When the steel is produced through an electric arc furnace (EAF), two types of slag are generated: black and white slag. One...

The present work is focused on the in situ quantitative analysis of Si, Al, Mg, Ca, Ba, Na, and Fe, present in weathered terrestrial analogues to meteorites (black steel slag and impact glasses), using a portable Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument. For that purpose, several standards pellets of known elemental concentrations wer...

Meteorites and impact glasses have been largely analysed using different techniques, but most studies have been focused on their geological–mineralogical characterization and isotopic ratios, mainly of a destructive nature. However, much more information can be gained by applying novel non-destructive analytical procedures and techniques that have...

The number of studies of Mars geology through the geochemical analysis of Martian meteorites has been increasing in the last years because of the amount of information that can be obtained about the planet. In this study, a Martian meteorite, the Northwest Africa 6148 nakhlite, has been analysed and characterised, as there were few studies about it...

Libyan desert glass (LDG) is a melt product whose origin is still a matter of controversy. With the purpose of adding new information about this enigma, the present paper analyzes the inner part of LDG specimens and compares them with the results of LDG surfaces. An integrated analytical methodology was used combining different techniques such as R...

The interest in reusing steel slag in several applications such as aggregate in cement (buildings) and in different road bases, railroad ballast, fertilizer, fill material, etc. has increased. Thus, it is important to know what elements are leached from the slag to the environment in order to evaluate the environmental risk of its reuse. Here we pr...

This work focuses on the analytical study of eight medieval metallic artefacts discovered during the archaeological excavations of the Ereñozar necropolis (13th century, Basque Country, Spain). As the conservation state of archaeological objects is closely related to the characteristics of the burial environment, chromatographic analysis was perfor...

The weathering steel is a high strength low alloy special kind of steel theoretically resistant to the atmospheric corrosion. In the present work, several weathering steel structures exposed to the urban atmosphere were analyzed by means of structural and chemical analyzer, a spectroscopic system that combines micro-Raman and SEM/EDS microscopy mea...

This study was carried out to elucidate the causes of irregularities and discolorations on the surface of parts of a weathering steel sculpture which had been in contact with wood pallets. Non-destructive analysis of the samples by Raman spectroscopy revealed the presence of iron oxalates and calcium oxalates. Thermodynamic modeling suggested that...

Raman spectroscopy, including in-situ and laboratory analyses, were carried out in beachrock outcrops located in temperate latitude (Arrigunaga beach, Bilbao Estuary, North of Spain) to characterise the wide variety of sediments and wastes trapped within the cements. In the examined beachrocks (coastal sedimentary structures formed in the intertida...

The chemical analysis of the remains of paintings from the Royal Portal of Bordeaux Cathedral was carried out by in situ analytical techniques and by laboratory techniques after sampling. Even though, nowadays, portable systems have a good performance and provide reliable results, in the present case, the in situ approach failed, and the analysis h...

Darwin impact glass appeared in Tasmania (Australia) around 800 000 years ago by meteorite impact. To further study the formation process, several specimens of Darwin glass from the meteorites collection of the University of the Basque Country were analysed. Raman spectroscopy was considered the most suitable technique to determine the differences...

Weathering steel is a widely material for works exposed outdoors due to its corrosion resistance. This resistance is achieved through the development of the so-called protective rust layer. This layer is composed by several iron oxides and oxyhydroxides which act as a barrier against the corrosion. Several studies have been performed about the cons...

Weathering steel was designed to resist against the atmospheric impact due to the development of a characteristic rust layer that protects the metal by reducing the corrosion rate. This rust layer is formed by different iron (oxy-hydr)oxides that acts as a barrier and provides the protective ability. In order to check the conservation state trough...

The characteristic protection ability of weathering steel can be affected by the environment in SO2 rich urban atmospheres. Although sulphur dioxide can partially be oxidised to sulphur trioxide, both acid gases can be dissolved either in the atmosphere or in the moisture film present on the steel surface, forming sulphurous and/or sulphuric acid,...

This work studies the applicability of a Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform handheld device to perform in-situ analyses on cultural heritage assets. This portable diffuse reflectance spectrometer has been used to characterize and diagnose the conservation state of (a) building materials of the Guevara Palace (15th century, Segura, Basqu...

Graphical abstract This work studies the combination of Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) and transmittance Far infrared spectroscopy (T-FIR) to perform pigments determination in wallpapers, as alternative to Raman spectroscopy. In the Santa Isabel wallpaper, minium (Pb3O4), calcite (CaCO3), barium sulphate (BaSO4), Prussian bl...

The present work was focused on the investigation of the original and decayed materials as well as the degradation phenomena affecting the middle age mural painting preserved in the Assumption's church of Alaiza (Basque Country, Spain). Portable Raman spectroscopy assisted with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence was used to identify the nature of...

Weathering steel, in spite of its resistance against the atmospheric corrosion can be damaged due to the affection of environmental stressors. In fact, the presence of soluble salts formed after greenhouse acid gases impact, can accelerate the corrosion process. In this work three weathering steel sculptures exposed to urban atmosphere were studied...

Black slag from steel production is an industrial waste used as secondary material for some applications (forest tracks, cement, etc.). When it disposed to the open air, little is known about possible side effects that could appear with time. To foresee those side effects, various Raman equipments were used. This analytical strategy has been applie...

Weathering steel, and particularly CorTen steel, is a very used material for modern artworks exhibited outdoors. One of the characteristic that makes this material so attractive to artists is the property to develop a protective rust layer composed by iron oxides which preserves its metallic core from atmospheric corrosion. This study was conducted...

Two specimens of Libyan Desert glass (LDG), the controversial glass fragments found in Great Sand Sea of Libyan Desert (Egypt), were analyzed by Raman microspectroscopy assisted by X-ray microfluorescence. Quartz, cristobalite, and anatasa were identified, together with other LDG compounds like corundum and feldspars, found in previous works. Howev...

Weathering steel (high strength low alloy steel also known as Cor-Ten ® or U.S. Steel) has been widely used in architecture and engineering for its unique characteristics and resistance against atmospheric corrosion. This self-protecting material has the quality of gradually forming a stable corrosion resistant oxide patina through outdoor weatheri...