CORE ANALYSIS
constitute a mineral formation. With multiple frequency measurements the phenomena of dielectric dispersion may be observed as scattering parameter spectra representative of the unique characteristics of the test sample and relevant to the geological identification of the core materials and formations from which the sample was extracted.
RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS OF GEOLOGIC CORES
Six unique core samples similar in size and shape to fig- ure 4 were measured using the three sensor multi-frequency SansEC spectrometer technique. All six experiments produced repeatable and promising results.
Planetary Thermal Penetrators are methods of drilling using a hot drill tip to melt ice, rather than cut through it. These devices have been tested in Antarctica. Many areas of our solar system are ideal candidates for thermal drill exploration. A thermal melting probe could penetrate ice in remote Earth locations, Mars, Europa or other equally remote exploration targets.
THE ROLE OF TIPPER
The concept of the mathematical relationship of the verti- cal to horizontal field, subsequently being named ‘Tipper’ by Keeva Vozoff, has been around and conceptually well under- stood since the early 1960s.
It was well after the Hz to horizontal H relationship was recognized that Keeva came up the name “tipper.” It needed a name, and, as this seemed somewhat descriptive, it stuck. That is to say, Keeva was not the one who actually discovered the Tipper possibly, more cumbersome mathematical means to express the field responses, but the Tensor expression, together with relations for coordinate rotation, proved to be a substantial contribution to the study and treatment of the MT response. Such behavior as the ellipticity and elliptical orien- tation for TIPPER, certainly provide for innovative intuitive results of the interpretation by the current iteration of TIPPER by today’s TDD International team, headed by Byron Arnason.
What is important here is that the current iteration of TIPPER, provided and pioneered by our group, notably by our Byron Arnason (one of the original patent co-authors) brought to us an impressive innovation and roving Hz coil methodol- ogy, with the clever pendulum mount and rapid deployment and data acquisition; and eventually, an enormous quantity of experience and experimental data. There are now better 3D modeling resources, but the biggest improvement in TIPPER surveying has arisen from our new refined system and the rather enormous experience in recording and observing and interpreting TIPPER data in a geologic environment.
It is not difficult to imagine SansEC sensors integrated into the drills of ground based explorers on Mars. We can even imagine SansEC spectroscopy sensors incorporated into the wheels of future ground based rovers constantly acquiring a trail of RF spectroscopic data as the vehicle rolls along the varying surface of the planet.
CONCLUSIONS
The SansEC sensor and TIPPER represent our opinion that the combination of these innovations could enhance science data returns of future exploration space missions. These dedi- cated electromagnetic sensors offer baseline components that
Fig.5. Conceptualization of Europa’s subsurface ocean and geomorphological features.
could form the architecture of instrument systems to acquire better data and knowledge of what lies beneath the surfaces of terrestrial and extra-terrestrial terrains throughout the solar system.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge NASA’s AvSP AEST Project and the team members of NASA Langley Research Center, George Szatkowski, Larry Ticatch, Chuantong Wang, and Laura Smith. We acknowledge special appreciation to the Indiana Geological Survey and Personal Communications with Byron Arnason, Jumbo Mining Company and TDD International B.V. t.b.e. Edwin King, Jumbo Mining Corp, Dr. Darrell Word, Geotronics Corp Magneto Telluric, Dave Hartshorn, WUCC Copper Mines, and Blair Salisbury, TexasGulf Sulfur and CSM.
Dr. Michael C. Mound, AIPG CPG-03195, is the CEO of TDD International Business Development. Dr. Mound is a Certified Petroleum Geologist (AAPG #1229), GSA Senior Fellow #1623930, Senior Member SME #4056760, and a member of several other professional organizations. Dr. Mound has been employed in the oil industry, the mining industry, analytical and plant automation, and has studied and worked for both US and European Geological surveys, and academic institutions. Michael Mound can be reached at
mmound@gmail.com.
Kenneth Dudley is a Senior Researcher at the NASA Langley Research Center with 30 years of federal service. He attended the USAF Academy, the NASA Engineering Apprentice Program, and the Peninsula Graduate Center. His expertise is in radio frequency spectrum and network analysis, and was on the Special Team inves- tigating the crash of TWA Flight-800. His recent research involved novel wireless sensors and lightning strike protection for air vehicles. He has authored/coauthored many papers and holds multiple U.S. patents featuring applied aerospace electromagnetic technologies.
This abbreviated article summarizes the wedding of two distinctly unfamiliar technologies that have never been mated similarly. Michael and his colleagues welcome contact from readers who are sufficiently piqued to pursue the scholarly background that supports their find- ings, including some dozen separate patents and significant research. This introduction is intended to entice those who would like to know the derivations and connections used to test that which the authors are delighted to show - the science of how planetary geology and space missions can be mutually supporting.
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