Martian Analog (MMS-2 M)
Practical significance
The composition and ratios of the chemical compounds in the MMS-2 were adjusted so that the simulant is a more than 90% chemical match to the surface of Mars.
Origin
The MMS-2 (enhanced Mars Simulant) is made by The Martian Garden (themartiangarden.com) by adding Iron III Oxide, Magnesium Oxside, Sulfates, and Silicates to the Mojave Mars Simulant that was mined from the Saddleback Basalt at the Mojave desert.
Main constituent
Plagioclase
Color
Red-brown
Particle size Mie: reff (μm)
2.3
Particle size Mie: veff
0.28
Particle size
The sample was processed at the Instituto de Cerámica y Vidrio (CSIC-ICV) to produce a narrow particle size distribution centered at 3-4 micrometers.
Size distribution plot:
Size distribution table
SEM/TEM images:
Scattering matrix (1) wavelength in nm
488.00 nm
Scattering matrix (1) table
Scattering matrix (1) plot:
Scattering matrix (2) wavelength in nm
640.00 nm
Scattering matrix (2) table
Scattering matrix (2) plot:
Refractive index
The complex refractive indices of the MMS-2 analogue were retrieved using the MMS-2 XL sample for a wavelength range of 200-2000 nm (see Martikainen et al., 2023). For the wavelengths of the scattering matrix measurements, the values were interpolated as shown by Martikainen et al., (2024).
At 488 nm, n = 1.5 and k =0.0011. At 640 nm, n = 1.5 and k = 0.00035.
Optical Properties
Phase matrices
Angle range (deg)
[3,177]
Reference/s