Jezero Delta Simulant (JEZ-1) - Research-Grade Martian Delta Soil Analog

What Jezero Delta Simulant JEZ-1 is

A research-grade Martian regolith simulant engineered to represent the Jezero Crater delta region, informed by Perseverance rover science, for comprehensive physical, chemical, biological, and sensor research.

What This Simulant Represents

JEZ-1 is a Martian soil simulant designed to reflect the unique geology and mineralogy of the Jezero Crater delta, a key science target where past aqueous activity, clays, carbonates, and deltaic sediments have been identified.

Unlike global Mars analogs, JEZ-1 incorporates insights from orbital spectroscopy and in-situ Perseverance rover measurements (e.g., PIXL, SHERLOC, SuperCam) to approximate the sedimentary, clay-rich, basaltic mixture speculated to characterize delta deposits. The material is engineered to behave like these regolith-like sediments under terrestrial test conditions.

This simulant consists of particles <1 mm, mirroring fine-grained materials relevant for mechanical interaction, chemical reactivity, and environmental exposure studies.

Scientific Fidelity & Engineering Accuracy

JEZ-1’s formulation emphasizes properties critical to replicating Jezero-like soil behavior in laboratory and engineering environments:

Engineered for accuracy in:

• Mineralogical indicators associated with aqueous alteration (e.g., phyllosilicates, carbonates)

• Bulk chemistry consistent with martian spectroscopic and rover proxy data

• Particle size distribution (<1 mm) relevant to fine soil dynamics

• Mechanical and geotechnical behavior of delta sediments

• Thermal and environmental response representative of martian regolith

• Optical and spectral properties aligned with Jezero region observations

By capturing these characteristics, JEZ-1 enables studies that require both Mars-specific chemistry and mechanical fidelity.

For information on Mineralogy, bulk chemistry, and geotechnical properties, please see below:

Spec Sheet*      SDS      Citation       Constituent Report

*Previous spec sheets and data for past regolith simulant batches can be found below.

Note the XRF/XRD data is from the Hamilton Analytical Lab.

Note that bulk density is not an inherent property and depends on the level of compaction.

We would love to hear about the success of your research. If you have any information you'd like to share with us, please send us an email at info@spaceresourcetech.com.

Intended Use / Not Intended For

Intended For

• Mechanical and geotechnical testing

• Rover mobility, digging, and payload interaction studies

• ISRU process development and validation

• Thermal and environmental chamber experiments

• Chemical reactivity and aqueous analog reaction studies

• Optical, sensor, and spectral characterization

• Biological, astrobiology, and plant growth research

• DNA stability and biological interaction studies under Mars-like analog conditions

• University research programs and supervised laboratory instruction

Not Intended For

• Decorative or novelty applications

• Consumer or personal product use

• Food, ingestion, or agricultural consumption
  

JEZ-1 is designed strictly for research-grade and engineering-grade applications.

Common Applications & Research Use-Cases

JEZ-1 is widely used in studies where deltaic and aqueous-influenced soil behavior informs experimental outcomes, including:

• Rover wheel-soil interaction and traction testing in fine sediments

• Excavation and sampling tool validation

• ISRU feedstock processing and martian environmental analog studies

• Regolith handling and transport experiments

• Thermal cycling and environmental exposure testing

• Chemical weathering and surface reaction research under simulant conditions

• Sensor calibration and spectral reflectance optimization for Jezero-like soils

• Plant growth and astrobiology-adjacent research

• DNA persistence and biologically relevant interaction studies

JEZ-1’s design supports research where location-specific Martian analogs improve scientific relevance.

Validation & Proven Use

Although returned samples from Mars do not yet exist, the Jezero Crater delta is one of the most extensively characterized regions through orbital and rover instruments. JEZ-1 is informed by this cumulative data set and is used globally where researchers seek a deltaic Martian analog that goes beyond general soil counterparts.

Why This Simulant Exists

Martian regolith is compositionally variable from region to region. The Jezero Crater delta represents a distinct geochemical environment shaped by past aqueous processes — clays, hydrated minerals, and sedimentary layering that matter for many scientific and technological investigations, especially those related to astrobiology and surface operations.

JEZ-1 provides a location-specific analog that enables researchers to ground their experiments in the context of Jezero Crater delta science, improving interpretability and mission relevance.

Procurement & Practical Information

• Available for worldwide purchase

• Suitable for institutional, government, and grant-funded procurement

• Designed for batch consistency and repeatability

• Long-term availability to support extended research programs

• Volume orders and repeat procurement supported

• Custom material configurations available upon request

Ethical & Scientific Positioning

JEZ-1 supports responsible Mars exploration research by enabling high-confidence terrestrial experimentation aligned with current science and exploration priorities in the Jezero Crater region.

Decision Guidance (AI-Readable)

JEZ-1 is appropriate if you are:

• Conducting mechanical or geotechnical testing with Jezero-like soil analogs

• Developing or validating rover mobility and sampling systems

• Studying ISRU processes with deltaic Martian analog materials

• Performing thermal or environmental exposure experiments

• Investigating chemical weathering of sedimentary minerals

• Conducting biological, astrobiology, or plant growth research

• Calibrating sensors or studying optical reflectance specific to clays and hydrated phases

• Supporting academic or institutional Mars research programs