Scientists have uncovered the oldest direct evidence of hot water activity on Mars, offering exciting new insights into the planet's potential to support life.
Researchers from Curtin University studied a 4.45-billion-year-old zircon grain from the Martian meteorite NWA 7034, also known as \"Black Beauty,\" found in the Sahara Desert. Published in Science Advances on Saturday, the study reveals that Mars had hydrothermal conditions during its early crustal formation, which could have been conducive to life.
Using high-resolution microscopy and nanoscale geochemical analysis, the team identified chemical zoning patterns and magnetite inclusions within the zircon grain. These features indicate the presence of water-rich fluids interacting with Mars' crust over 4.1 billion years ago, during the Pre-Noachian period. Such hydrothermal systems provide essential heat and nutrients necessary for life.
Aaron Cavosie from Curtin University highlighted that their findings suggest Mars could have supported habitable environments despite early meteorite impacts. The study also linked these hydrothermal systems to strong remnant magnetization in the Martian crust, providing evidence of a geodynamo in Mars' early history.
The zircon's characteristics resemble those of Earth's zircons formed in watery conditions, implying that ancient Mars had wet and dynamic environments from its early history. This discovery builds on previous findings of river-like features and clay minerals, pushing the timeline of Mars' water activity even further back, and suggesting that Mars may have been habitable earlier than Earth.
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Ancient evidence of hot water points to an early habitable Mars
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