2nd International Sample Return 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2071) 6028.pdf

LANDING SITE SELECTION ON MARS IN IAPYGIA QUADRANGLE. Saumitra Mukherjee, Priyadarshini Singh, Deepali Singh, and Nidhi Roy, Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India. ([email protected])

Introduction: The study area centred at 56.233oE by [2] is seen in high resolution CTX image mosaic of and 7.787oS lies in the Iapygia quadrangle of Mars the area (Fig. 1. inset B). Further, similar studies on flanked by Schroeter crater in the north and Huygens Mars as well as show emplacement of such struc- crater in the south (Fig. 1.). The extraction of the pal- tures in volatile rich deposits [2]. Parallel to the dike, aeo-drainage network within the region suggests that it flow deposits are visible running from east to west as is a flat terrain with a depression of ~500m covering an inferred from DEM (Fig. 1. inset B). This is consistent area of around 20,000 square kilometres. Several with the depositions seen in the western and northern streams of the drainage network end into this basin side of the basin further confirming flow towards the making it a reservoir of several deposits brought in by topographically low western region. In addition, de- these channels. formation of a crater rim is observed along a lineament Data sets and Methodology: We have utilized running from north to south (Fig. 1. inset A). Similar CTX images (6m/pix) and other global datasets includ- features indicating recent subsurface fault activity in ing basemaps of THEMIS day IR (100 m/pix), HRSC the region may further be explored. and MOLA Blended Digital Elevation Model (b) Biosignature preservation: Central to presence (200m/pix). Each basemap was imported into ArcGIS of is the concept of habitability, the set of 10.1 and THEMIS map was overlaid on HRSC MOLA conditions that allow the emergence of life and suc- Blended DEM to study morphological features inside cessful establishment of microorganisms in any one the basin. location. While the environmental conditions may have been conducive to the appearance of early life in Mar- tian history, habitable conditions were always hetero- geneous on a spatial scale and in a geological time frame. Ponding of water can also provide a prime set- ting for harbouring life and preserving it during ad- verse climatic conditions [3,4]. (c) Regional Geology: The study area has been mapped as a part of Late highland unit ex- tending upto lava flows of Syrtis Major in the north- east region [5]. The area has some olivine deposits, indicative of effusive magma events, as well as high- calcium pyroxene abundance [6] both of which con- tribute to high thermal inertia. Aqueously altered min- erals including hydroxylated silicates are also present on the north-western periphery of the basin. Fig. 1. Study area is outlined in black. Note the differ- Conclusion: Sampling done in the vicinity of the ence in ejecta morphology of rampart craters (white dike system makes this site suitable for the collection arrows) towards the eastern and western side of the ba- sin. Deformed crater rim [inset A]; Dike system and par- of representative samples of deeper crustal/mantle ma- allel flow deposits [inset B]. terials. Evidence of aqueous sedimentation increases Discussion: Following reasons suggest that the the probability for preservation of biosignatures there- proposed area can be a prospective landing site for by making it a prospective sampling site. Moreover, a exploration: permanent sampling station can also be established (a) Morphology: Rampart craters having ejecta within this relatively flat basin with diverse morpholog- morphologies ranging from radial to single and double ical features. layered with comparable crater sizes have been ob- References: [1] Barlow et al. (2000), JGR: Planets, served [1]. The eastern side of the basin has single lay- 105(E11), [2] Head et al. (2006), Geology, 34(4), [3] Cabrol, ered circular and pancake type ejecta layer whereas the N. & Grin, E.A. (1999), Icarus, 142(1), 160–172, [4] Cabrol, western side has double layered hummocky ejecta im- N. A., & Grin, E. A. (2001), Icarus, 149(2), 291-328, [5] plying that there is higher volatile concentration in that Tanaka et al. (2014), Geologic map of Mars: U.S. Geological side (Fig. 1.). An extension of a dike network reported Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3292, [6] Bandfield, J. L. (2002), JGR: Planets, 107(E6),