Water covers approximately 71% of our planet’s surface, making it a vital component of our ecosystem. Water surrounds us, from the air we breathe to the floors we walk on, and even within the very rocks that make up our earth. It is believed that liquid water has existed on Earth for approximately 4.3 billion years.
The history of water on early Mars remains shrouded in uncertainty. Determining when water first emerged on Earth’s surface, where it originated, and how long ago this occurred are three fundamental questions that have captivated scientists. If a specific amount of water were needed.
Researchers examining a Martian meteorite have discovered conclusive evidence of liquid water existing on the planet’s surface approximately 4.45 billion years ago, during the formation of zircon crystals. The detection of our outcomes, as printed, potentially represents the earliest definitive evidence for the presence of water on Mars.
A Moist Purple Planet
Water has long been recognized as playing a crucial role in early Martian history. To contextualize our leads within the Martian geological timescale, let’s consider what “early Mars” entails, then ponder alternative approaches to searching for water on the Red Planet.
Similarities between Earth and Mars emerged approximately 4.5 billion years ago. Mars’ historical past has been characterized by four distinct geological intervals. Amazonian epochs from today back to three billion years, Hesperian periods spanning three billion to three point seven billion years ago, Noachian eras dating from three point seven to four point one billion years past, and Pre-Noachian times reaching back to approximately 4.5 billion years.
Water on Mars was initially confirmed in the early 1970s with the capture and analysis of images showing river valley formations on the planet’s surface. Orbiting later, subsequent missions along with and detected the extensive occurrence of hydrated clay minerals on the Martian surface. These would have wanted water.
The Martian river valleys and clay minerals are predominantly found in Noachian-aged terrains, covering approximately 45% of the planet’s surface. Additionally, orbiters found outflow channels in Hesperian terrains, referred to as such. The faint markings suggest a brief occupation by water on the surface, possibly resulting from a sudden release of groundwater.
Most existing reviews of water on Mars focus on ancient supplies or terrains dating back more than 3 billion years. There is limited evidence of secure liquid water existing on Mars prior to recent findings.
However, what about throughout the pre-Noah era? Water appears to have flowed on ancient Mars about 3.5 billion years ago, during a time known as the Noachian period, according to NASA’s Curiosity rover and other research.
A Window to Pre-Noachian Mars
Mars exploration teams have identified three primary methods for tracking down liquid water on the Martian surface: Data from orbiting spacecraft are being leveraged to inform primary research. The technique is leveraging ground-based observations that are analogous to those captured by Mars rovers.
We reviewed Martian meteorites that had landed on Earth, which was our chosen approach.
The sole remnants of pre-Noachian materials currently accessible for examination are embedded within Martian meteorites. A small fraction of all meteorites that have fallen to Earth.
A fascinating subset of Martian meteorites is thought to have originated from the planet’s surface during the Pre-Noachian era, comprising material ejected from Mars throughout its history.
The poster child of this group is an extraordinary rock known as NWA7034, or the Black Beauty.
The iconic Black Magnificence, a renowned Martian meteorite composed of fragmented floor materials – also known as regolith – that have been transported to Earth through an extraordinary cosmic journey. This ancient rock formation harbours a treasure trove of zircons, their crystalline structures forged during a remarkably narrow timeframe spanning approximately 5 million years, from 4.48 billion to 4.43 billion years ago. The earliest recorded discoveries on Mars date back to these ancient findings.
While analyzing ancient zircon fragments, our research revealed conclusive evidence of hydrothermal activity – a process that occurs when hot water interacts with rocks after their initial formation in the distant past.
The existence of hydrothermal veins in certain areas has long been regarded as a hint that there may be ore deposits lurking beneath the surface? Geological surveys have confirmed this suspicion, revealing vast reserves of valuable minerals hidden within these veins.
The zircon we studied has. Inside the Earth, a unique abundance pattern emerges, with iron, aluminum, and sodium forming concentric layers akin to the rings of an onion.
Oscillatory zoning in this sample suggests that the incorporation of those components into the zircon occurred over its entire igneous history, within the magma itself.
So how do unusual elements like iron, aluminum, and sodium end up incorporated into Martian zircon crystals when they’re typically absent from their terrestrial counterparts?
The reply is scorching water.
While finding zircon in Earth rocks with progressive zoning patterns featuring constituents like iron, aluminium, and sodium is rarely encountered. Located in South Australia, a significant deposit of copper, uranium, and gold has been identified at this site.
Metals in locations such as the Olympic Dam deposit have been concentrated through hydrothermal processes that migrated through rocks during episodes of magmatism, driven by scorching hot fluids.
Hydrothermal systems occur anywhere hot water, heated by volcanic fluid flow, permeates through rocks. Rare and awe-inspiring natural wonders, such as those found in America, occur when hydrothermal water bursts forth from the Earth’s surface in spectacular displays of geyser activity.
The discovery of a hydrothermal Martian zircon sparks intrigue over potential ore deposits on ancient Mars.
Previous studies have suggested that ancient Mars, preceding the Noachian era, may have been a humid environment. Uncommon oxygen isotope ratios found in a 4.43 billion-year-old Martian zircon have previously been suggested as evidence of an ancient, stable atmosphere on Mars. Could Mars have harboured life approximately 4.45 billion years ago?
Data suggests that intense magmatic hydrothermal activity has been a hallmark of early Martian crust formation, dating back approximately 4.45 billion years.
While security of current floodwater is unclear, it’s likely feasible. It’s evident that Mars’ crust, akin to Earth’s, was once saturated with water in its formative stages—a fundamental component of a potentially habitable environment.
