
These tools enable SAM to identify a wide range of chemical compounds and determine the ratios of different isotopes of key elements."By combining analyses of water and other volatiles from SAM with mineralogical, chemical and geological data from Curiosity's other instruments, we have the most comprehensive information ever obtained on Martian surface fines," said Paul Mahaffy, principal investigator for SAM at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt."These data greatly advance our understanding surface processes and the action of water on Mars". Thirty-four researchers, all members of the Mars Science Laboratory Science Team, contributed to the study.Scientists used the rover's scoop to collect dust, dirt and finely grained soil from a sandy patch known as Rocknest.Researchers fed portions of the fifth scoop into SAM. Inside SAM, the "fines" - the dust, dirt and fine soil - were heated to 835 degrees Celsius.Baking the sample also revealed a compound containing chlorine and oxygen, likely chlorate or perchlorate, previously found near the north pole on Mars.Finding such compounds at Curiosity's equatorial site suggests they could be distributed more globally.The analysis also suggests the presence of carbonate materials, which form in the presence of water, researchers said.In addition to determining the amount of the major gases released, SAM also analysed ratios of isotopes of hydrogen and carbon in the released water and carbon dioxide.