Raman spectroscopy as a method for mineral identification on lunar robotic exploration missions

The sharp, nonoverlapping Raman bands for plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine would be advantageous for on-surface, active mineralogical analysis of lunar materials. A robust, light-weight, low-power, rover-based Raman spectrometer with a laser exciting source, entirely transmission-mode holographic optics, and a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector could fit within a <20 cm cube. A modern micro-Raman spectrometer with its beam broadened and set for low resolution, was used to simulate the spectra anticipated from a rover instrument. The paper presents spectra for lunar mineral grains, <1 mm soil fines, breccia fragments, and glasses. -from Authors