CheMin

CheMin, short for Chemistry and Mineralogy, is an instrument located in the interior of the Curiosity rover that is exploring the surface of Gale crater on Mars.

[1] CheMin identifies and quantifies the minerals present in rocks and soil delivered to it by the rover's robotic arm.

[2] In addition, CheMin data is useful in the search for potential mineral biosignatures, energy sources for life or indicators for past habitable environments.

[1][2] CheMin aboard the Curiosity rover on Mars won the 2013 NASA Government Invention of the year award.

[1] In operation, the collimated X-ray source produces and directs a beam through a transmission sample cell containing powdered material.

On public display in downtown Mountain View, California , as part of NASA Ames ' 75th anniversary.
First X-ray diffraction view of the Martian soil – CheMin analysis reveals feldspar , pyroxenes , olivine and more ( Curiosity rover , " Rocknest ", October 17, 2012). [ 5 ]
Curiosity rover – Mudstone Mineralogy – 2013 to 2016 on Mars (CheMin; December 13, 2016) [ 8 ]