Genesis Berlanga | University of California, Santa Cruz (original) (raw)

Conference Abstracts by Genesis Berlanga

Papers by Genesis Berlanga

Applied Optics, 2019

We report the remote Raman spectra of natural igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock samples ... more We report the remote Raman spectra of natural igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock samples at a standoff distance of 5 m. High-quality remote Raman spectra of unprepared rocks are necessary for accurate and realistic analysis of future Raman measurements on planetary surfaces such as Mars. Our results display the ability of a portable compact remote Raman system (CRRS) to effectively detect and isolate various light- and dark-colored mineral phases in natural rocks. The CRRS easily detected plagioclase and potassium feldspar end members, quartz, and calcite in rocks with high fluorescence backgrounds. Intermediate feldspars and quartz, when found in rocks with complex mineralogies, exhibited band shifts and broadening in the 504−510,,rmcm−1{504{-}510}\,\,{{\rm cm}^{ - 1}}504−510,,rmcm−1504-510cm-1 and 600−1200,,rmcm−1{600{-}1200}\,\,{{\rm cm}^{ - 1}}600−1200,,rmcm−1600-1200cm-1 regions. A good approximation of intermediate plagioclase feldspars was possible by using overall Raman spectral shape and assigning other minor Raman peaks in addition to the $ 504{-}510\,\,{{\rm cm}^{ - 1}}$504-510cm-1 peaks. Detection of olivine and pyroxene in mafic rocks allowed for compositional characterization.

Introduction: Outer main belt asteroids provide insight to the early solar nebula chemistry and c... more Introduction: Outer main belt asteroids provide insight to the early solar nebula chemistry and composition. Volatiles such as carbon dioxide serve as markers for materials that primarily condensed in the outer portions of the solar system. Large quantities likely travelled into the inner solar system via comets and asteroids [3], probably as ices, but possibly in different physical states. CO2 has also been detected in surfaces too warm for CO2 to exist and may be held by structural trapping, physisorption, and chemisorption [2]. Here we investigate the adsorption of CO2 onto outer main belt carbonaceous chondrite meteorite matrix material; material thought to reflect regions of the primordial solar nebula that did not undergo significant heating (>200 C) [6] and thus have potentially aided in the delivery of CO2 into the inner solar system. Additionally, understanding the presence of CO2 on meteorites may provide insight for potential adsorption processes in non-ice materials o...

GLASS. Genesis Berlanga, M. Darby Dyar, Laura Breitenfeld, Carlie Wagoner, Avery Hanlon, Paul Bar... more GLASS. Genesis Berlanga, M. Darby Dyar, Laura Breitenfeld, Carlie Wagoner, Avery Hanlon, Paul Bartholomew, Shiv K. Sharma, and Anupam K. Misra. Univ. of Hawai'i Manoa, Hawai'i Inst. of Geophysics and Planetology, 1680 East-West Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822, gberlang@hawaii.edu, Mount Holyoke Col., Dept. of Astronomy, 50 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075, Dept. of Biology and Environmental Science, Univ. of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516.

Terrestrial thermal environments can serve as analogs for subsurface environments in the search f... more Terrestrial thermal environments can serve as analogs for subsurface environments in the search for life because they regularly host microbial communities, which may leave behind biosignatures. This study focused on an acid-sulfate hydrothermal site as an analog for a potentially habitable environment on Mars. A weathered boulder in the thermal area was dissected, revealing an interior marked with disconnected horizons of differently colored materials, very low pH, and increasing temperature. The mineralogy comprised weathering products from andesite (kaolinite, quartz, clinoptilolite) along with sulfate salts (alunite, jarosite, tschermigite, and copiapite) formed by oxidation of sulfide and ferrous iron. Characterization of organic matter in this boulder and several soil samples yielded interesting but surprising results. Both mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy identified organic compounds in portions of the soils and the boulder. Jarosite-associated samples showed more nume...

Introduction: Detection and characterization of organics, proteins, and amino acids play a signif... more Introduction: Detection and characterization of organics, proteins, and amino acids play a significant role for NASA’s search for past and present life in astrobiological targets. Amino acids and nucleobases are of particular interest due to their involvement in biological processes and as basic constituents of life as we know it. Proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic amino acids and nucleo bases have been reported in Martian meteorites, carbonaceous chondrites, and in samples returned by NASA’s Stardust spacecraft from comet 81 P/Wild 2 [1-4]. Characterization of key proteins and amino acid signatures such as tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, glycine, β-alanine, γ-amino-nbutyric acid, L-alanine, L-Glutamic acid, and βaminoisobutyric acid supports future rover investigations on astrobiological targets. Fluorescence excitation of individual aromatic residues of folded proteins, such as tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, will aid in identifying amino acid interactions that lead...

Amino acids and nucleobases are of particular interest to NASA’s science goal of “Search for life... more Amino acids and nucleobases are of particular interest to NASA’s science goal of “Search for life” because they are essential for life as the basic constituents of proteins and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA). Their detection would point to possible biosignatures and potential life bearing processes and thus there is a need for technologies capable of identifying them. Raman spectroscopy provides univocal and accurate chemical characterization of organic and inorganic compounds and can be used to detect biological materials and biomarkers in the context of planetary exploration. While micro-Raman systems are useful, a remote Raman instrument can increase the analysis area around a rover or lander. At the University of Hawai‘i we developed a portable, compact time-resolved remote-Raman instrument using a small 3” diameter mirror lens telescope, and used it to demonstrate daytime detection of amino acids and nucleobases from a distance of 8 m. The measured spectra allowed us to univocall...

American Journal of Science

Clay mineral-bearing mudstones are a prominent component of ancient fluvial-lacustrine deposits, ... more Clay mineral-bearing mudstones are a prominent component of ancient fluvial-lacustrine deposits, 100s of meters thick, documented by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, in Gale crater, Mars. Most of the clay minerals documented by MSL are hypothesized to have formed in situ, at or close to the time of deposition ∼3.5 Ga ago, by aqueous alteration of basaltic detritus. Here we study the mechanisms, controls, and timescales of clay mineral authigenesis in a series of lakes with a wide range of water chemistries from the Western Volcanic District, Victoria, SE Australia, as an analog to the Gale crater mudstones. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the sediments of most of the Western Volcanic District lakes studied contain mixtures of kaolinite, illite, mixed-layer illite-smectite (I-S), and dioctahedral smectite clay minerals. Comparisons of this mineral assemblage with regional soils and creek bedload material confirm previous assertions of significant inputs of detrital clay minerals into the lakes. A trioctahedral clay mineral phase is also detected, making up to 39 wt.% of bulk sediments. The abundance of trioctahedral clay minerals correlates with contemporary lake hydrology and proxies for past lake water Mg concentration. This indicates in situ formation of trioctahedral clay minerals by the uptake of Mg and Si from lake waters and pore fluids at rates determined by local physico-chemical conditions. Examination of crater lake sediments, where detrital clay mineral input is minimized, demonstrate that neoformed trioctahedral clay minerals are poorly crystalline trioctahedral smectites. Neoformation of trioctahedral smectites also occurs in lakes where detrital clay minerals are more abundant. However, an additional authigenic transformation process is indicated by the proportions of Mg and Si added to detrital clay minerals as well as evidence for the uptake of K from lake waters. The transformation process probably involved the incorporation of Mg into the octahedral sheets of detrital clay minerals, leading to irreversible uptake of K into interlayer sites (illitization). The distribution of trioctahedral smectites and radiocarbon ages from sediment cores show that clay mineral authigenesis occurred before sediment consolidation, on timescales of years to 100s of years. These results support syndepositional interpretations of analogous Mg-rich clay minerals documented by MSL, and their use as proxies for chemical conditions in ancient Gale lakes. In comparison with the Western Volcanic District lakes, clay mineral-bearing lacustrine mudstones from Gale crater exhibit only modest chemical weathering of basaltic detrital materials and rarely contain carbonate minerals in quantities detectable by XRD. These observations highlight significant differences in weathering regimes and regolith mineralogy on ancient Mars that could be linked to lake catchment geomorphology, climate, atmospheric CO2 content, and the absence of biotic processes on Mars.

Introduction: Standoff remote Raman technique is increasingly highlighted as a viable method for ... more Introduction: Standoff remote Raman technique is increasingly highlighted as a viable method for planetary surface chemical analysis. This technique requires no sample preparation, transfers minimal to no target sample damage, and can be used under daylight conditions; saving time and increasing the number of accessible targets. The University of Hawaii (UH) in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and NASA Langley Resarch Center, has developed a Compact Remote Raman+LIBS+Fluorescence System (CRRLFS) that is capable of Raman, LIBS, and fluorescence measurements under daytime conditions from standoff distances. The instrument is shown in Figure 1. This work is in support of the Mars 2020 mission where UH is collaborating with LANL and French partners IRAP and CNES, to develop the SuperCam instrument that will be a part of the Mars 2020 rover. The instrument will perform remote chemical analysis of Mars surface rocks using Raman, LIBS, and time-resolved fluorescence...

Applied Optics, 2019

We report the remote Raman spectra of natural igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock samples ... more We report the remote Raman spectra of natural igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock samples at a standoff distance of 5 m. High-quality remote Raman spectra of unprepared rocks are necessary for accurate and realistic analysis of future Raman measurements on planetary surfaces such as Mars. Our results display the ability of a portable compact remote Raman system (CRRS) to effectively detect and isolate various light-and dark-colored mineral phases in natural rocks. The CRRS easily detected plagioclase and potassium feldspar end members, quartz, and calcite in rocks with high fluorescence backgrounds. Intermediate feldspars and quartz, when found in rocks with complex mineralogies, exhibited band shifts and broadening in the 504−510 cm −1 and 600−1200 cm −1 regions. A good approximation of intermediate plagioclase feldspars was possible by using overall Raman spectral shape and assigning other minor Raman peaks in addition to the 504−510 cm −1 peaks. Detection of olivine and pyroxene in mafic rocks allowed for compositional characterization.

Applied spectroscopy, Jan 23, 2018

The remote detection of chemicals using remote Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spe... more The remote detection of chemicals using remote Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is highly desirable for homeland security and NASA planetary exploration programs. We recently demonstrated Raman spectra with high signal-to-noise ratio of various materials from a 430 m distance during daylight with detection times of 1-10 s, utilizing a 203 mm diameter telescopic remote Raman system and 100 mJ/pulse laser energy at 532 nm for excitation. In this research effort, we describe a simple two-components approach that helps to obtain remote Raman and LIBS spectra of targets at distance of 246 m with 3 mJ/pulse in daytime. The two components of the method are: (1) a small spectroscopy system utilizing 76 mm diameter collection optics; and (2) a small remote lens near the target. Remote Raman spectra of various chemicals are presented here with detection time of 1 s. Remote LIBS spectra of minerals using single laser pulse of 3 mJ/pulse energy from a distance ...

Applied optics, Jan 20, 2016

Raman spectroscopy is a characterization technique that is able to analyze and detect water or wa... more Raman spectroscopy is a characterization technique that is able to analyze and detect water or water-bearing minerals, minerals, and organic materials that are of special interest for planetary science. Using a portable pulsed remote Raman system with a commercial 8 in. (203.2 mm) telescope, a frequency doubled Nd-YAG-pulsed laser, and a spectrometer equipped with an intensified CCD camera, we acquired good quality Raman spectra of various materials from a 430 m standoff distance during daylight with detection times of 1-10 s, in a realistic context in which both the exciting source and the detector are part of the same measurement system. Remote Raman spectra at this distance provided unambiguous detection of compounds such as water and water ice, dry ice, sulfur, sulfates, various minerals and organics, and atmospheric gases. This research work demonstrates significant improvement in the remote Raman technique as well as its suitability for solar system exploration.

Applied Optics, 2019

We report the remote Raman spectra of natural igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock samples ... more We report the remote Raman spectra of natural igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock samples at a standoff distance of 5 m. High-quality remote Raman spectra of unprepared rocks are necessary for accurate and realistic analysis of future Raman measurements on planetary surfaces such as Mars. Our results display the ability of a portable compact remote Raman system (CRRS) to effectively detect and isolate various light- and dark-colored mineral phases in natural rocks. The CRRS easily detected plagioclase and potassium feldspar end members, quartz, and calcite in rocks with high fluorescence backgrounds. Intermediate feldspars and quartz, when found in rocks with complex mineralogies, exhibited band shifts and broadening in the 504−510,,rmcm−1{504{-}510}\,\,{{\rm cm}^{ - 1}}504−510,,rmcm−1504-510cm-1 and 600−1200,,rmcm−1{600{-}1200}\,\,{{\rm cm}^{ - 1}}600−1200,,rmcm−1600-1200cm-1 regions. A good approximation of intermediate plagioclase feldspars was possible by using overall Raman spectral shape and assigning other minor Raman peaks in addition to the $ 504{-}510\,\,{{\rm cm}^{ - 1}}$504-510cm-1 peaks. Detection of olivine and pyroxene in mafic rocks allowed for compositional characterization.

Introduction: Outer main belt asteroids provide insight to the early solar nebula chemistry and c... more Introduction: Outer main belt asteroids provide insight to the early solar nebula chemistry and composition. Volatiles such as carbon dioxide serve as markers for materials that primarily condensed in the outer portions of the solar system. Large quantities likely travelled into the inner solar system via comets and asteroids [3], probably as ices, but possibly in different physical states. CO2 has also been detected in surfaces too warm for CO2 to exist and may be held by structural trapping, physisorption, and chemisorption [2]. Here we investigate the adsorption of CO2 onto outer main belt carbonaceous chondrite meteorite matrix material; material thought to reflect regions of the primordial solar nebula that did not undergo significant heating (>200 C) [6] and thus have potentially aided in the delivery of CO2 into the inner solar system. Additionally, understanding the presence of CO2 on meteorites may provide insight for potential adsorption processes in non-ice materials o...

GLASS. Genesis Berlanga, M. Darby Dyar, Laura Breitenfeld, Carlie Wagoner, Avery Hanlon, Paul Bar... more GLASS. Genesis Berlanga, M. Darby Dyar, Laura Breitenfeld, Carlie Wagoner, Avery Hanlon, Paul Bartholomew, Shiv K. Sharma, and Anupam K. Misra. Univ. of Hawai'i Manoa, Hawai'i Inst. of Geophysics and Planetology, 1680 East-West Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822, gberlang@hawaii.edu, Mount Holyoke Col., Dept. of Astronomy, 50 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075, Dept. of Biology and Environmental Science, Univ. of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516.

Terrestrial thermal environments can serve as analogs for subsurface environments in the search f... more Terrestrial thermal environments can serve as analogs for subsurface environments in the search for life because they regularly host microbial communities, which may leave behind biosignatures. This study focused on an acid-sulfate hydrothermal site as an analog for a potentially habitable environment on Mars. A weathered boulder in the thermal area was dissected, revealing an interior marked with disconnected horizons of differently colored materials, very low pH, and increasing temperature. The mineralogy comprised weathering products from andesite (kaolinite, quartz, clinoptilolite) along with sulfate salts (alunite, jarosite, tschermigite, and copiapite) formed by oxidation of sulfide and ferrous iron. Characterization of organic matter in this boulder and several soil samples yielded interesting but surprising results. Both mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy identified organic compounds in portions of the soils and the boulder. Jarosite-associated samples showed more nume...

Introduction: Detection and characterization of organics, proteins, and amino acids play a signif... more Introduction: Detection and characterization of organics, proteins, and amino acids play a significant role for NASA’s search for past and present life in astrobiological targets. Amino acids and nucleobases are of particular interest due to their involvement in biological processes and as basic constituents of life as we know it. Proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic amino acids and nucleo bases have been reported in Martian meteorites, carbonaceous chondrites, and in samples returned by NASA’s Stardust spacecraft from comet 81 P/Wild 2 [1-4]. Characterization of key proteins and amino acid signatures such as tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, glycine, β-alanine, γ-amino-nbutyric acid, L-alanine, L-Glutamic acid, and βaminoisobutyric acid supports future rover investigations on astrobiological targets. Fluorescence excitation of individual aromatic residues of folded proteins, such as tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, will aid in identifying amino acid interactions that lead...

Amino acids and nucleobases are of particular interest to NASA’s science goal of “Search for life... more Amino acids and nucleobases are of particular interest to NASA’s science goal of “Search for life” because they are essential for life as the basic constituents of proteins and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA). Their detection would point to possible biosignatures and potential life bearing processes and thus there is a need for technologies capable of identifying them. Raman spectroscopy provides univocal and accurate chemical characterization of organic and inorganic compounds and can be used to detect biological materials and biomarkers in the context of planetary exploration. While micro-Raman systems are useful, a remote Raman instrument can increase the analysis area around a rover or lander. At the University of Hawai‘i we developed a portable, compact time-resolved remote-Raman instrument using a small 3” diameter mirror lens telescope, and used it to demonstrate daytime detection of amino acids and nucleobases from a distance of 8 m. The measured spectra allowed us to univocall...

American Journal of Science

Clay mineral-bearing mudstones are a prominent component of ancient fluvial-lacustrine deposits, ... more Clay mineral-bearing mudstones are a prominent component of ancient fluvial-lacustrine deposits, 100s of meters thick, documented by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, in Gale crater, Mars. Most of the clay minerals documented by MSL are hypothesized to have formed in situ, at or close to the time of deposition ∼3.5 Ga ago, by aqueous alteration of basaltic detritus. Here we study the mechanisms, controls, and timescales of clay mineral authigenesis in a series of lakes with a wide range of water chemistries from the Western Volcanic District, Victoria, SE Australia, as an analog to the Gale crater mudstones. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the sediments of most of the Western Volcanic District lakes studied contain mixtures of kaolinite, illite, mixed-layer illite-smectite (I-S), and dioctahedral smectite clay minerals. Comparisons of this mineral assemblage with regional soils and creek bedload material confirm previous assertions of significant inputs of detrital clay minerals into the lakes. A trioctahedral clay mineral phase is also detected, making up to 39 wt.% of bulk sediments. The abundance of trioctahedral clay minerals correlates with contemporary lake hydrology and proxies for past lake water Mg concentration. This indicates in situ formation of trioctahedral clay minerals by the uptake of Mg and Si from lake waters and pore fluids at rates determined by local physico-chemical conditions. Examination of crater lake sediments, where detrital clay mineral input is minimized, demonstrate that neoformed trioctahedral clay minerals are poorly crystalline trioctahedral smectites. Neoformation of trioctahedral smectites also occurs in lakes where detrital clay minerals are more abundant. However, an additional authigenic transformation process is indicated by the proportions of Mg and Si added to detrital clay minerals as well as evidence for the uptake of K from lake waters. The transformation process probably involved the incorporation of Mg into the octahedral sheets of detrital clay minerals, leading to irreversible uptake of K into interlayer sites (illitization). The distribution of trioctahedral smectites and radiocarbon ages from sediment cores show that clay mineral authigenesis occurred before sediment consolidation, on timescales of years to 100s of years. These results support syndepositional interpretations of analogous Mg-rich clay minerals documented by MSL, and their use as proxies for chemical conditions in ancient Gale lakes. In comparison with the Western Volcanic District lakes, clay mineral-bearing lacustrine mudstones from Gale crater exhibit only modest chemical weathering of basaltic detrital materials and rarely contain carbonate minerals in quantities detectable by XRD. These observations highlight significant differences in weathering regimes and regolith mineralogy on ancient Mars that could be linked to lake catchment geomorphology, climate, atmospheric CO2 content, and the absence of biotic processes on Mars.

Introduction: Standoff remote Raman technique is increasingly highlighted as a viable method for ... more Introduction: Standoff remote Raman technique is increasingly highlighted as a viable method for planetary surface chemical analysis. This technique requires no sample preparation, transfers minimal to no target sample damage, and can be used under daylight conditions; saving time and increasing the number of accessible targets. The University of Hawaii (UH) in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and NASA Langley Resarch Center, has developed a Compact Remote Raman+LIBS+Fluorescence System (CRRLFS) that is capable of Raman, LIBS, and fluorescence measurements under daytime conditions from standoff distances. The instrument is shown in Figure 1. This work is in support of the Mars 2020 mission where UH is collaborating with LANL and French partners IRAP and CNES, to develop the SuperCam instrument that will be a part of the Mars 2020 rover. The instrument will perform remote chemical analysis of Mars surface rocks using Raman, LIBS, and time-resolved fluorescence...

Applied Optics, 2019

We report the remote Raman spectra of natural igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock samples ... more We report the remote Raman spectra of natural igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock samples at a standoff distance of 5 m. High-quality remote Raman spectra of unprepared rocks are necessary for accurate and realistic analysis of future Raman measurements on planetary surfaces such as Mars. Our results display the ability of a portable compact remote Raman system (CRRS) to effectively detect and isolate various light-and dark-colored mineral phases in natural rocks. The CRRS easily detected plagioclase and potassium feldspar end members, quartz, and calcite in rocks with high fluorescence backgrounds. Intermediate feldspars and quartz, when found in rocks with complex mineralogies, exhibited band shifts and broadening in the 504−510 cm −1 and 600−1200 cm −1 regions. A good approximation of intermediate plagioclase feldspars was possible by using overall Raman spectral shape and assigning other minor Raman peaks in addition to the 504−510 cm −1 peaks. Detection of olivine and pyroxene in mafic rocks allowed for compositional characterization.

Applied spectroscopy, Jan 23, 2018

The remote detection of chemicals using remote Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spe... more The remote detection of chemicals using remote Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is highly desirable for homeland security and NASA planetary exploration programs. We recently demonstrated Raman spectra with high signal-to-noise ratio of various materials from a 430 m distance during daylight with detection times of 1-10 s, utilizing a 203 mm diameter telescopic remote Raman system and 100 mJ/pulse laser energy at 532 nm for excitation. In this research effort, we describe a simple two-components approach that helps to obtain remote Raman and LIBS spectra of targets at distance of 246 m with 3 mJ/pulse in daytime. The two components of the method are: (1) a small spectroscopy system utilizing 76 mm diameter collection optics; and (2) a small remote lens near the target. Remote Raman spectra of various chemicals are presented here with detection time of 1 s. Remote LIBS spectra of minerals using single laser pulse of 3 mJ/pulse energy from a distance ...

Applied optics, Jan 20, 2016

Raman spectroscopy is a characterization technique that is able to analyze and detect water or wa... more Raman spectroscopy is a characterization technique that is able to analyze and detect water or water-bearing minerals, minerals, and organic materials that are of special interest for planetary science. Using a portable pulsed remote Raman system with a commercial 8 in. (203.2 mm) telescope, a frequency doubled Nd-YAG-pulsed laser, and a spectrometer equipped with an intensified CCD camera, we acquired good quality Raman spectra of various materials from a 430 m standoff distance during daylight with detection times of 1-10 s, in a realistic context in which both the exciting source and the detector are part of the same measurement system. Remote Raman spectra at this distance provided unambiguous detection of compounds such as water and water ice, dry ice, sulfur, sulfates, various minerals and organics, and atmospheric gases. This research work demonstrates significant improvement in the remote Raman technique as well as its suitability for solar system exploration.