Chemical analysis of water-related minerals in volcanic landscapes
Malvern Panalytical participated in a field experiment PANGAEA-X 2017 organized by ESA for the chemical analysis of water-related minerals in volcanic landscapes. For this exercise, Lanzarote was selected, the island of 1000 volcanoes.
Two transportable analytical devices from Malvern Panalytical, Epsilon 1 and the ASD TerraSpec Halo, were used for quick identification of minerals in rocks and dust particles. Since both devices use X-rays and infrared energies, they are non-destructive and therefore are complementary techniques for chemical analyses.
Together with Jesús Frías, Professor of planetary geochemistry at the Geosciences Institute in Spain, more than 100 samples were collected and analyzed with great success. According to Professor Frías, previously unidentified water-related minerals were identified. Minerals and trace elements were reported for each sample and gave clues of the origin of the rocks and soils, in and nearby the dormant volcano.
Also, ESA astronaut Matthias Mauer used both devices during the experiments and gave compliments and positive feedback for the new experiments in the next campaign.
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