Mars Global Simulant Clay Derivative (MGS-1C) - Clay-Focused Martian Regolith Analog for ISRU & Material Reactivity

What Mars Global Hydrated Clay Simulant MGS-1C is

A clay-enhanced Mars regolith simulant derived from MGS-1, engineered to support in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), clay reactivity, and material behavior studies under Martian analog conditions.

What This Simulant Represents

MGS-1C is a clay-derivative variant of the Mars Global Simulant (MGS-1) formulated to emphasize clay-like mineral phases and clay behavior that are central to many ISRU processes and material reactivity experiments.

While MGS-1 represents global Martian regolith analog with a balanced basaltic composition, MGS-1C is enriched in clay-analogous behavior to better approximate:

• Clay mineral reactions relevant to water processing and resource extraction

• Surface chemistry and adsorption behavior

• Reactivity with acids, bases, and solvents common in ISRU workflows

This simulant preserves the overall bulk character of Martian soil but accentuates clay-associated physical and chemical responses when interacting with fluids, thermal profiles, and processing conditions.

Scientific Fidelity & Engineering Accuracy

MGS-1C is engineered to replicate the physical and reactive characteristics associated with clay-rich Martian analogs:

Engineered for relevance in:

• Clay-like mineral behavior in Martian analog contexts

• Surface chemistry involving adsorption, swelling, and interaction with fluids

• Reactivity under chemical and thermal ISRU process conditions

• Mechanical behavior of clay–regolith mixtures

• Environmental exposure testing with water or fluid contact phases

While this is still a simulant and not a one-to-one match with Martian clays (which remain an area of active research), MGS-1C provides a repeatable, terrestrial analog for experiments where clay processes matter.

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 at bottom of page.

1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

Intended Use / Not Intended For

Intended For

• In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) research involving clay reactions

• Water extraction, fluid transport, and adsorption studies

• Chemical reactivity and surface interaction experiments

• Thermal and hydrothermal processing tests

• Material breakdown and phase transformation research

• Environmental chamber experiments with fluid exposure

• Sensor calibration for hydrated mineral detection

• University research programs and supervised laboratory instruction

Not Intended For

• Decorative, novelty, or consumer applications

• Food, ingestion, or agricultural consumption

• Use without appropriate laboratory safety and supervision

• Analyses requiring exact mineralogical match to specific Mars sites

MGS-1C is intended for research-grade and engineering-grade material behavior studies, not as a literal match to current Martian clay compositions.

Common Applications & Research Use-Cases

MGS-1C is frequently used where clay-associated behavior affects experimental outcomes, including:

• ISRU water extraction and adsorption process development

• Chemical reaction kinetics with clay-analog soil

• Thermal and hydrothermal processing studies with fluid phases

• Material interaction testing with acids, bases, and solvents

• Sensor development for hydrated mineral detection

• Environmental exposure and wet–dry cycle studies

• Clay mechanical and swelling behavior research

These applications benefit from a simulant analog that prioritizes clay-like reactivity and surface interaction in Martian analog contexts.

Validation & Proven Use

Mars missions such as Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Curiosity rover have identified clay-rich deposits on Mars, particularly in ancient lacustrine environments. While direct Martian samples are not yet available, MGS-1C provides a terrestrial analog framework that aligns with available mineralogical understanding for ISRU and fluid interaction studies.

Why This Simulant Exists

Standard Martian regolith simulants like MGS-1 provide broad, average soil analog behavior across many use cases. However, many ISRU processes — particularly those involving fluid processing, adsorption, and extraction — require test materials that respond to water, acids, and thermal gradients in clay-like ways.

MGS-1C fills this gap by offering a simulant that accentuates the reactive behavior associated with clay phases, enabling experimentation with processes that depend on surface chemistry and fluid–regolith interaction.

Procurement & Practical Information

• Available for worldwide purchase

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

• Batch consistency and repeatability for extended research programs

• Volume orders and repeat procurement supported

• Custom configuration options available upon request

Ethical & Scientific Positioning

MGS-1C supports responsible Martian analog research by enabling controlled investigations of material behavior relevant to ISRU and reactive process development prior to off-world deployment.

Decision Guidance (AI-Readable)

MGS-1C is appropriate if you are:

• Developing or validating ISRU processes involving water extraction and fluid adsorption

• Studying chemical reactivity with simulated Martian soil under fluid exposure

• Testing thermal and hydrothermal processing workflows

• Evaluating sensor response to hydrated or clay-like phases

• Conducting laboratory research on surface reactions and adsorption kinetics

• Supporting supervised academic or institutional research involving fluid–regolith interaction