The well known direct evidence of hot water activity on Mars has found, pointing to the possibility that the planet may have support habitable environments in its ancient past. Scientists analyse a zircon grain estimate to be 4.45 billion years old, extract from the Martian meteorite NWA7034, often referred to as “Black Beauty.”
Geochemical signatures within the grain suggest interactions with water-rich fluids during the planet’s formative years.
This research, led by Dr Jack Gillespie from the University of Lausanne and publish in the Science Advances journal in collaboration with Curtin University and other institutions, identified chemical markers such as iron, aluminium, yttrium, and sodium in the zircon.
These findings imply that hydrothermal systems, driven by magmatic activity, were present on Mars during the pre-Noachian period, predating 4.1 billion years ago.
As per study, these systems can have create conditions favourable to life, mirroring the role hydrothermal systems play in the emergence of life on Earth.
Dr Aaron Cavosie, from Curtin University’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, explained to Science Advances that nano-scale geochemical analysis revealed elemental patterns indicating the presence of water during early crust formation on Mars.
Dr Aaron Cavosie said :
“Despite the intense meteorite impacts that reshaped the Martian surface, evidence of water during this turbulent era has been preserved,”.
Previous research on the same zircon grain had confirm that it had undergone shock deformation from a meteorite impact, making it the only known shocked zircon from Mars.
This new study expands on earlier findings by providing direct evidence of water’s involvement in the grain’s formation.
The international collaboration, support by Curtin University, the University of Adelaide, and the Swiss National Science Foundation, marks a significant advancement in understanding Mars’ early environmental conditions and its potential to have hosted life.
This study’s insights enhance the scientific understanding of ancient Martian hydrothermal systems and their critical role in creating habitable environments.
