Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) is an internal laboratory instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory rover that identifies and quantifies the minerals present in rock and soil samples. It uses X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence to analyze powdered samples delivered by the rover's robotic arm. This allows geologists to determine the exact mineral structures formed in the Martian past, which is critical for understanding historical water activity.
Heard on the job
The arm just dropped the drill tailings into the CheMin funnel for the overnight X-ray diffraction run.
Also heard as
- Chemistry and Mineralogy