Reconstruction of hydrothermal activity in impact crater through elemental changes using ICP-MS and XRF and its application to Martian research

Meteorite impact events are commonly observed not only on Earth but also on other planets, and have been considered as a fundamental process in planetary evolution. Understanding extreme environments that developed after meteorite impacts, especially hydrothermal activity, is crucial for tracing the evolution of life on the early Earth and other planets. In this study, we aim to investigate the elemental features in the post-impact lake sediments within the Hapcheon impact crater in Korea based on geochemical multi-proxy data obtained through inductively coupled Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray Fluorescence Core Scanning (XRF). In particular, we aim to trace hydrothermal activity within the crater by focusing on the changes in manganese (Mn), europium (Eu) and cerium (Ce) anomalies. Furthermore, we suggest that Earth's impact craters can be used as natural experimental sites for studying Martian craters and environments.