1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
The Jezero Delta Simulant (JEZ-1) was made to simulate anticipated materials in the Jezero Crater deltas that will be investigated by the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. Exolith Lab is able to simulate this from orbital data of the Jezero Crater and was quintessential for the preparation of the Perseverance Landing. The Perseverance Rover’s main mission is to seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of regolith to possibly return to Earth. This mission will bolster the understanding we have of Martian Regolith, and further propel ISRU Research around the world, of which Exolith Lab will be a leader.
The simulant is a mixture of MGS-1 mineralogy with smectite clay, Mg-carbonate, and additional olivine that have all been detected from orbital remote sensing in the Jezero delta deposits.
The state of lithificaiton, mineralogy, and grain size distribution are likely variable throughout the Jezero deltas; JEZ-1 represents unconsolidated material, but can be compacted under various pressures to form a more cohesive solid.
All of our Martian simulants are an upgraded, high-fidelity alternative to the more commonly known JSC MARS-1.
For information on Mineralogy, bulk chemistry, and geotechnical properties, please see below:
*Previous spec sheets and data for past regolith simulant batches can be found at bottom of page.
Mineralogy
| Mineral |
Wt.% |
| Olivine |
32.0 |
| Anorthosite |
16.0 |
| Glass-rich basalt |
13.5 |
| Pyroxene (Bronzite) |
12.0 |
| Mg-carbonate |
11.0 |
| Smectite |
6.0 |
| Mg-sulfate |
2.4 |
| Ferrihydrite |
2.1 |
| Hydrated silica |
1.8 |
| Magnetite |
1.1 |
| Anhydrite |
1.0 |
| Fe-carbonate |
0.8 |
| Hematite |
0.3 |
Bulk Chemistry
This table shows the relative abundances of each element detected by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The relative abundances of elements detected by XRF in geological samples are quantified as oxides. In the simulant, these elements are contained in the minerals described in the Mineralogy table above, and not necessarily in oxide form. These data are from the Hamilton Analytical Lab.
| Oxide |
Wt% |
| SiO2
|
36.4
|
|
TiO2
|
0.4 |
| Al2O3
|
8.0 |
| FeO |
11.9 |
| MnO |
0.1 |
| MgO |
25.6 |
| CaO |
4.6 |
Na2O
|
0.9 |
| K2O
|
0.3 |
| P2O5
|
0.1 |
| LOI* |
10.0 |
| Total** |
98.4
|
*Loss on ignition
**Excluding volatiles and trace elements; see spec sheet.
Physical Properties
Mean Particle Size: 70 µm
Particle Size Range: <0.04 µm – 1000 µm
Bulk density*: 1.54 g/cm3
Angle of Repose (Avg): 42.2°
Note that bulk density is not an inherent property and depends on the level of compaction.
Publications: Cannon, K. M., D. T. Britt, T. M. Smith, R. F. Fritsche, and D. Batcheldor (2019), Mars Global Simulant MGS-1: A Rocknest-based Open Standard for Basaltic Martian Regolith Simulants. Icarus, 317, 470-478.
*Spec Sheet (Before 06/2021)
*Spec Sheet (6/2021-Current)
We would love to hear about the success of your research. If you have any information you'd like to share with us, please send us an email at exolithlab@ucf.edu
Photo Credit: Abigail Glover, Exolith Lab
