Craters as Drills on Mars: Results from a Manmade, 260 Meter Diameter Crater in Layered Terrain

Introduction: Since the mid-1990’s, researchers have explored the surface of Mars with increasing intensity and effort. However, the geologic history of Mars remains intensely debated. Interpretations are particularly wide ranging for the contribution of water. Interpretation uncertainties remain high for two primary reasons. First, researchers that use the same hyperspectral remote sensing data sets report widely different compositional interpretations. That interpretation divide is particularly strong between researchers who combine laboratory and Mars analog field work, and those who use primarily a laboratory foundation [1]. Interpretations also differ between the thermal-infrared and visible/near-infrared communities. Second, researchers have little information on Mars subsurface materials. Analysis of subsurface materials can address current ambiguities in the role of hydrologic activity, erosion, and available resources [2, 3]. The work presented here addresses the two primary problems described above: (1) We analyze hyperspectral field data in the field; and (2) We test how to use craters as a source of fresh subsurface materials. We use material exposed at unique sites: Manmade, small Mars analog craters (<400 m diameter). Plans for manned missions increase the need for accurate assessments of Mars, yet important questions will remain unresolved until subsurface materials are found and analyzed accurately. Exploration of relevant craters on Earth can build the necessary foundation for the route to discovery and accurate analysis on Mars. We previously reported exploration (ground and airborne) of two unique manmade craters in basalt [4,5]. Here we provide initial results for the manmade crater “Schooner” (Fig. 1), a 260 m diameter crater that was created in layered geologic terrain at the Nevada Test Site.