Particle sieving and sorting under simulated martian conditions

We report on sorting of small grained material under simulated martian conditions in order to better understand the nature of particle movement in the acquisition-to-analysis chain for future martian missions. We find that triboelectric charging when material is sieved is a major phenomenon that has to be understood and mitigation strategies explored in order to be able to successfully move particles under these types of conditions while minimizing cross sample talk. In different experimental set-ups, we have observed such phenomena as caking of the sieve, adhesion of particles to hardware, clodding of dry fines, and electrostatic repulsion. These phenomena occur when different experimental testing is performed with varied configurations and environmental conditions. Identifying these electrostatic effects can help us understand potential bias in the analytical instruments and to define the best operational protocols to collect samples on the surface of Mars. These experiments demonstrate the need for end-to-end system testing under the most realistic environmental conditions and platforms before mission configurations can be demonstrated before launch.