Seminar

Three billion years ago, large-scale salt deposits were formed on the Martian surface as a result of a disastrous drought event where a huge water body, oceans and lakes disappeared. 

In order to understand the mineralogy, climatic conditions and geological changes and any possible life that took place in the Martian surface, a terrestrial saline sedimentary environment is needed as an analogue, as the current Martian conditions are different from those 3 billion years ago.

The saline lake of Dalangtan Playa, in the Tibetan Plateau, is considered one of the best terrestrial representations of the Martian surface nowadays. Its dry and cold climate, together with its specific mineralogy indicates that this site is the perfect martian analogue to understand martian salts as well as to evaluate any possibility of martian life.