New research in Nature Astronomy suggests thick, mineral-rich clay layers on Mars, formed 3.7 billion years ago, were ideal for long-term life. Analyzing 150 deposits, scientists found these areas, often near ancient lakes, had stable, warmer, and wetter conditions, offering strong evidence for past habitability on the red planet.
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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS
A new study published in Nature Astronomy proposes that thick, mineral-rich layers of clay on Mars were once ideal for life to survive for a long time.
These mineral-rich layers of clay were formed about 3.7 billion years ago, offered warmer and wetter conditions than other parts of the planet.
Researchers analyzed 150 clay deposits using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. They studied the shape and locations of these deposits to see how they resembled ancient lakes and rivers on Mars.
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The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a spacecraft orbiting Mars. It carries high-resolution cameras and other instruments that allow scientists to study the planet's surface, atmosphere, and subsurface in detail. For this study, MRO's data helped researchers map and analyze the clay deposits from space. |
Scientists found these clay minerals in areas where chemical weathering was favored over physical erosion.
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Chemical weathering is the process where rocks and minerals break down due to chemical reactions. Unlike physical erosion (which breaks rocks into smaller pieces), chemical weathering changes the actual chemical composition of the minerals. On Mars, this would involve water reacting with existing minerals to form new clay minerals. |
Since tectonic activity is almost non-existent on Mars, carbon dioxide (CO2) released by volcanoes likely stayed in the planet's atmosphere for a long time. This CO2 probably made Mars warmer and wetter, which could have contributed to the formation of the clay layers.
Researchers still do not fully understand how Mars's topography (the physical features of its surface) and climate specifically affected the formation of these clay layers.
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