Mössbauer spectroscopy Archives

First Mössbauer spectrum measured on Mars surface. It was recorded during 3 hours and 25 minutes of sol 14 by rover Spirit at Gusev crater. No magnetite or hematite signature was detected because of poor spectral statistics -- Springer Nature

A Consolidated Mössbauer Spectrum For Undisturbed Soils From Gusev Crater, Mars

by Keith CowingAugust 4, 2026August 4, 2026

[Springer Nature] Mössbauer analyses from MIMOS II data collected on Mars provided breakthrough insights into iron mineralogy of the planet’s surface. [Life] Resulting from limited measurement time, science operations were […]

(A) Sampling location at the origin of Río Tinto, Spain (modified from García-Moyano et al., 2007). (B) The iron microbialites (white arrow) grew horizontally on a northeast-facing wall. (C) -- [GSA Bulletin]

Analog Studies

Iron Microbialites From An Acidic Martian Analog (Río Tinto, Spain)—Implications For Finding Life On Mars

by Keith CowingJuly 17, 2026July 17, 2026

[GSA Bulletin] The search for life on Mars requires identifying suitable biosignatures detectable by rover missions or in returned samples. To support the progressing astrobiological exploration of Mars, we investigated […]