Dr. Luca Maggioni
INAF - Institute of Astrophysics and Spatial Planetology (IAPS) in Rome
16/04/2026
Asteroid and cometary impacts are geologic processes shaping planetary surfaces
and evolution across the Solar System, leaving behind cratered landscapes that
record billions of years of activity. While these geological records capture the final
state of impact events, the underlying processes occur over extreme conditions
and timescales that cannot be directly observed. Understanding impact cratering
requires combining field evidence with physical modeling, and this implies linking
geologic interpretation with shock physics and numerical simulations. In this
context, we employ the iSALE hydrocode to investigate impact processes, from
crater excavation to melt production. Impact modeling is key to understanding
planetary exploration findings.
We examine a recent observation by the NASA Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
mission rover, which identified pure native sulfur deposits in Gale Crater,
representing the first confirmed occurrence of elemental sulfur on the planet. The
origin of these crystals remains an open question. We explore whether they could
result from impact-induced melting of a sulfur-bearing substrate. By combining
numerical simulations with thermodynamic modeling, we assess the plausibility of
this scenario, illustrating how physics and geology mutually inform and constrain
each other.