A rare Martian meteorite has shed light on the Red Planet’s earliest history, revealing that Mars once had liquid water billions of years ago. The meteorite, officially named Northwest Africa 7034 (NWA 7034), holds direct evidence of thermal water flowing on Mars in the distant past.
Discovered in a Moroccan market in 2011, Black Beauty – as it’s also known – was initially thought to be just another ordinary rock. However, its unique composition and mineral content have made it a cosmic gem, providing scientists with valuable insights into Mars’ ancient crust.
The meteorite contains minerals from different time periods, suggesting that it once formed part of Mars’ early crust before breaking away and embarking on its long journey to Earth. Recent research has uncovered a 4.45 billion-year-old mineral called zircon, which dates back to the time when Mars was still in its formative stages.
The significance of this discovery lies in the presence of water, aluminum, sodium, and magnetite – all key indicators of hydrothermal conditions. The findings suggest that Mars had liquid water around 4.45 billion years ago, a period considered crucial for the potential emergence of life on the Red Planet.
While no direct evidence of past life has been found yet, this discovery has significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial life and our understanding of Mars’ early history. The possibility that Mars could have once supported life raises intriguing questions about the connection between ancient Martian microbes and Earth’s lifeforms.
Source: https://eladelantado.com/news/morrocan-meteor-water-in-mars