What specific water-related minerals was the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) instructed to look for?
Answer
Hydrated sulfates or carbonates.
The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) was designated for the Mineral Identification task, focusing on spectroscopic analysis rather than direct chemical composition. Its primary function was to look across a broader area for the telltale spectral signatures associated with specific minerals that require the presence of water during their formation process. The key targets for Mini-TES were hydrated sulfates and carbonates. The detection of these minerals across the landscape provided widespread context for the localized findings gathered by the arm-mounted instruments, helping map the extent of ancient water interaction.
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