The SAM instrument is a cutting-edge tool used to analyze the composition of gases released from drilled samples when heated in its ovens. The analytical instruments used in SAM include a gas chromatograph, quadrupole mass spectrometer, and tunable laser spectrometer, each designed to measure specific types of compounds in the gases such as water, methane, carbon, or organic molecules.
In the recent experiment, EGA was used to analyze the Mammoth Lakes 2 sample by baking it in an oven and measuring the composition of gases released using the tunable laser spectrometer and quadrupole mass spectrometer. In the upcoming experiment, a new sample will be delivered to the SAM oven and measured using the gas chromatograph and quadrupole mass spectrometer. By conducting both experiments, scientists can obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the materials present in the rock.