Research project: Use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology for the identification and quantification of volatile substances in the lunar regolith.

I started my Master's degree in Geographic Sciences under the supervision of Myriam Lemelin in the fall of 2020. My project is related to the Moon, and more specifically to the characterization of volatile compounds on its surface. I will analyze simulated samples of lunar regolith with a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument, a technology widely used in the mining industry. This instrument has the potential to contribute to our knowledge of the geology of the Moon, and could be mounted on a robotic vehicle during future lunar missions.

Although my work does not directly contribute to the T-MARS project, the LIBS will also be used to study the geology of gossans. Analyses will be performed in the laboratory using samples brought back from field campaigns in Arctic. This technology allows rapid measurements to be taken in order to spatially establish the elemental composition of the samples. I am therefore responsible for analyzing these results, which will benefit the various objectives of the T-MARS project. These data will provide a better understanding of the local characteristics of the gossans, and can also be used for comparison in remote sensing analysis.

Project conducted under the direction of Prof. Myriam Lemelin, September 2020 to October 2022.