1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
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Developed By: University of Central Florida
Available From: CLASS Exolith Lab
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 SDS Citation
MGS-1S is a modified version of the root MGS-1 simulant, and is enriched in the polyhydrated sulfate gypsum. This represents the Reference Case “B” in the NASA Mars Water In-Situ Resource Utilization Study.
MGS-1S is specifically designed for ISRU water extraction studies; the M-WIP study concluded that polyhydrated sulfate deposits represent a clear advantage over bulk regolith or clay-bearing deposits in terms of mass and power, and may be much easier to access and excavate than permafrost deposits.
Mineralogy
Mineral |
Wt.% |
Gypsum |
40.0 |
Plagioclase |
16.4 |
Glass-rich basalt |
13.7 |
Pyroxene |
12.2 |
Olivine |
8.2 |
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.
Oxide |
Wt% |
SiO2
|
31.9 |
Al2O3
|
10.6 |
CaO |
20 |
Fe2O3
|
11.9 |
K2O
|
0.6 |
MgO |
6.4 |
MnO |
0.1 |
P2O5
|
0.9 |
TiO2
|
0.3 |
SO3
|
16.6 |
Cl |
0.3 |
Cr2O3
|
0.1 |
NiO |
0.1 |
SrO |
0.1 |
Total |
100 |
Physical Properties
Mean Particle Size: 119 µm
Particle Size Range: <0.04 µm – 1000 µm
Angle of Repose (Avg): 35°
Photo Credit: Abigail Glover, Exolith Lab