Assessing Potential Mars Landing Sites Based on Groundwater-Induced Hydrated Mineralogy and Geomorphology

Authors

  • Junyi Wang Brown University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70393/616a6e73.333038

ARK:

https://n2t.net/ark:/40704/AJNS.v2n3a01

Disciplines:

Earth Sciences

Subjects:

Geology

References:

16

Keywords:

Mars, Hydrated Minerals, Habitability, Landing Site Selection, Danielson Crater, Aram Chaos, Arabia Terra, Subsurface Water

Abstract

As the thorough exploration of Mars H2O, identifying the existence of a Martian biosphere becomes imperative. This paper discussing hydrated minerals on Mars offers a critical pathway to assessing its past habitability and potential subsurface biosphere. This study presents a multi-criteria evaluation of three candidate landing sites—Danielson Crater, Aram Chaos, and southwest Arabia Terra—selected for their scientific relevance to aqueous processes and their compliance with engineering constraints for future surface missions. Using integrated datasets from CRISM, HiRISE, MOLA, and other orbital instruments, the analysis emphasizes morphological diversity, mineralogical signatures, and preservation potential. Danielson Crater is identified as the most favorable site, combining well-preserved stratigraphy with strong evidence of phyllosilicate-rich layered deposits. This framework can serve as a reference for future Mars exploration missions targeting signs of past groundwater activity and habitability.

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Author Biography

Junyi Wang, Brown University

Department of Physics, Brown University, 02903, RI, USA.

References

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[4] Wan, X. (2021) ‘Design, function, and implementation of China’s first LIBS instrument (MarSCoDe) on the Zhurong Mars Rover’, Atomic Spectroscopy, 42(5). doi:10.46770/as.2021.608.

[5] Michalski, J.R. et al. (2013) ‘Groundwater activity on Mars and implications for a deep biosphere’, Nature Geoscience, 6(2), pp. 133–138. doi:10.1038/ngeo1706.

[6] Mars Odyssey: Multimedia (no date) NASA. Available at: https://mars.nasa.gov/odyssey/gallery/latestimages/20030724a.html.

[7] Carter, J. et al. (2013) ‘Hydrous minerals on Mars as seen by the CRISM and Omega Imaging Spectrometers: Updated global view’, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 118(4), pp. 831–858. doi:10.1029/2012je004145.

[8] Squyers, S. W., et al. (2004), In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars, Science, 306, 1709–1713.

[9] Glotch, T.D. and Christensen, P.R. (2005) ‘Geologic and mineralogic mapping of aram chaos: Evidence for a water‐rich history’, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 110(E9). doi:10.1029/2004je002389.

[10] Hartmann, W.K. (2005) ‘Martian cratering 8: Isochron refinement and the chronology of Mars’, Icarus, 174(2), pp. 294–320. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.11.023.

[11] Baioni, D., Murana, A. and Tramontana, M. (2014) ‘Amazonian thermokarst in Danielson Crater, Arabia Terra Region, Mars’, Planetary and Space Science, 104, pp. 310–317. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2014.09.006.

[12] Mars crater shows evidence for climate evolution (no date) ESA. Available at: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Mars_crater_shows_evidence_for_climate_evolution (Accessed: 15 December 2023).

[13] Carr, M. H. (1979), Formation of Martian flood features by release of water from confined aquifers, J. Geophys. Res., 84, 2995–3007.

[14] Nummedal, D. (1978), The role of liquefaction in channel development on Mars, Report of the Planetary Geology Program, 1977–1978 (abstract), NASA Tech. Memo., 79729, 257–259.

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[16] Shroder, E.-C. J. F. (2022). Treatise on Geomorphology (second edition). Academic Press.

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Published

2025-07-30

How to Cite

Wang, J. (2025). Assessing Potential Mars Landing Sites Based on Groundwater-Induced Hydrated Mineralogy and Geomorphology. Academic Journal of Natural Science , 2(3), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.70393/616a6e73.333038

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