Planetary Simulant Database
Free Resource for Regolith Simulant Information
Mineralogy
| Component | OUCM-1 (wt.%) | OUCM-2 (wt.%) |
|---|---|---|
| Fe-silicate | 30 | 11 |
| Phono-tephrite | 40 | 40 |
| Quartz | 3 | 8 |
| Dunite | 8 | 8 |
| Anorthosite | 7 | 7 |
| Wollastonite | 3 | 3 |
| Pyrite | 4 | 4 |
| Magnetite | 3 | 3 |
| Apatite | 1 | 1 |
| Gypsum | 1 | 1 |
| Hematite | 0 | 14 |
Bulk Chemistry
| Oxide | OUCM-1 (wt.%) | OUCM-2 (wt.%) |
|---|---|---|
| Na2O | 2.96 | 2.58 |
| MgO | 6.87 | 6.58 |
| Al2O3 | 10.99 | 9.74 |
| SiO2 | 42.59 | 45.29 |
| P2O5 | 0.73 | 0.68 |
| SO3 | 2.367 | 1.145 |
| K2O | 2.18 | 1.87 |
| CaO | 7.95 | 7.63 |
| TiO2 | 0.83 | 0.75 |
| Cr2O3 | 0.122 | 0.077 |
| MnO | 0.21 | 0.15 |
| Fe2O3 | 22.52 | 22.19 |
| LOI | -1.30 | -0.05 |
| Total | 100.06 | 99.34 |
Physical Properties
See Ramkissoon et al. 2019 for details.
Open University Contemporary Mars
Simulant Name: Open University Contemporary Mars
Availability: May Be Available
Fidelity: Standard
Developed By: Open University, United Kingdom
Available From: N/A
Publications: Ramkissoon, N. K. et al. (2019), New simulants for martian regolith: Controlling iron variability. Planetary and Space Science 179, 104722
Four new simulants and modifications were developed to replicate specific terrains on Mars based on rover data. They are chemically accurate with a specific focus on Fe2+/Fe3+ ratios, but are not mineralogically accurate (e.g., they contain significant quartz).
These simulants (OUCM-1 and -2) represent a contemporary Mars regolith based on the Rocknest sand shadow investigated by the Curiosity rover. The -1 designation is for the standard simulants, and the -2 designation is for those with modified Fe2+ concentrations.
The main applications are for astrobiological laboratory simulations. Ramkissoon et al. state that at least 50 kg of each was produced, and more may be made in the future and available to others.