2015 GSA Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, USA (1-4 November 2015)

Paper No. 326-5
Presentation Time: 2:30 PM

CORE ANALYSIS COMBINING MT (TIPPER ) AND DIELECTRIC SENSORS (SANS EC) IN EARTH AND SPACE


MOUND, Michael C., Management, TDD International, Hahnrainweg 9, Baden, 5400, Switzerland and DUDLEY, Kenneth I., Langley Research Center, NASA, LarC - D319, Mail Stop 130, Hampton, VA 2368-0001, mmound@gmail.com

On terrestrial planets and moons of our solar system cores reveal details about a geological structure's formation, content, and history. The strategy for the search for life is focused first on finding water which serves as a universal solvent, and identifying the rocks which such solvent act upon to release the constituent salts, minerals, ferrites, and organic compounds and chemicals necessary for life. Dielectric spectroscopy measures the dielectric properties of a medium as a function of frequency. Reflection measurements in the frequency range from 300 kHz to 300 MHz were carried out using RF and microwave network analyzers interrogating SansEC Sensors placed on clean geological core samples. These were conducted to prove the concept feasibility of a new geology instrument useful in the field and laboratory. The results show that unique complex frequency spectra can be acquired for a variety of rock core samples. Using a combination of dielectric spectroscopy and computer simulation techniques the magnitude and phase information of the frequency spectra can be converted to dielectric spectra. These low-frequency dielectric properties of natural rock are unique, easily determined, and useful in characterizing geology.

TIPPER is an Electro-Magnetic Passive-Source Geophysical Method for Detecting and Mapping Geothermal Reservoirs and Mineral Resources This geophysical method uses distant lightning and solar wind activity as its energy source. The most interesting deflections are caused by the funneling of electrons into more electrically conductive areas like mineralized faults, water or geothermal reservoirs. TIPPER to be used with SansEC for terrestrial and space directorates. The forward plan is to use down hole SansEC with TIPPER interface. The space probe has already been tested on ice using a nuclear powered tip for melting ice for depths. Plan is to use TIPPER for determining ocean (salts detected) below ice crust (1400’ thick; TIPPER will detect depth to core and determine fractures/structures and geomorphology of subsurface topography. Exploration planned with Europa and Ganymede moons; The Juno (probe) already on the way to Jupiter, It has already been determined that Jovian moons have auroras that prove internal energy sources naturally occurring making external energy sources unnecessary.

Handouts
  • GSA final Slides_Nov_4_2015.ppt (7.0 MB)