Expert Exchange: Mapping of chloride deposits on Icaria Planum on Mars, and its possible correlation with Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia

Europlanet 2024 RI’s Expert Exchange Programme aims to support the planetary community to share expertise and best practice, and to prepare new facilities and services. The programme provides funding for short visits (up to one week).

Nicole Jimeno Ruiz of Universidad Mayor de San Andres, La Paz, Bolivia visited Angelo Pio Rossi at Constructor University, Bremen, Germany from 03-09 May 2024.

1st day: Bibliography recompilation

On the first day, we proceeded to create the schedule and define the study area. The first task was the compilation of bibliographic information about chloride deposits near craters on Mars. At the same time, studies of chloride salts in the Salar de Uyuni. The second task was to define the study area on Mars; the study in Icaria Planum was determined.

The third task was to find hypothetical correlations between the Salar de Uyuni and Icaria Planum, with a focus on the formation of the deposits in the areas and the type of salt.

2nd day: Data use

For the second day, I started with the download of spectral (CRISM), optical (HiRISE, CTX), DEM (Mola), and thermal (Themis) images of Icaria Planum and its surroundings. Prof. Rossi and his PhD candidate Javier Suarez explained to me the theory about the types of images used in Planetary Sciences, their characteristics, and how I can download them for free.

3rd day: ISIS

On the third day, I learned the use of ISIS for planetary image processing and its importance in correction and projection. For this, I used the Python programming language and learned about the types of projection that can be used on Mars depending on the required use (polar or equirectangular).

4th day: Qgis

For the fourth day, after having the images projected and corrected, I started the processing in Qgis, this tool helped me to understand and try to imagine the possible geoforms and dynamic processes that at some point happened on Mars. In Qgis, I made a Slope and Hillshade map and did the reprojection of the HiRISE images because there was an error and they were wrongly projected.

5th day: Mapping

On the last day, I dedicated myself to recognizing the spectral signatures of my images and comparing them with the existing signatures of certain saline components and important minerals. This task was a bit complicated because my signatures did not resemble any of the ones I had as a reference, so I had to look for more information online. In the end, I was able to understand how they should relate and that sometimes they differ a lot due to mineralogical composition. At the same time, I made a reconnaissance of some geoforms and delimitation of craters in my study area.

The project will be further developed, in the next days I will continue with the mapping from Bolivia and its possible correlation with the Uyuni Salt Flat and I will make the summary for the presentation at an international congress (EPSC 2024) in collaboration with PhD candidate Javier Suarez.

Expert Exchange Objectives covered by this visit: Early Career, Training

Find out more about the Europlanet Expert Exchange Programme.