Don't diss the mud, that's blue sky research for you, my dear Dan. I've been doing rather nicely out of mud.
Seriously, if President Trump wants to mine Mars etc for whatever, you need some Geological knowledge to decide where to look. Could be that these Martian mud volcanoes are bringing minerals up from below and may be forming the mineral deposits of Mars. Could be gold in them thar toothpaste floes.
Chris