NASA’s Curiosity rover has made a groundbreaking discovery that sheds new light on Mars’ environmental past. Researchers found evidence of ancient carbonates, a type of mineral formed from the interaction between carbon dioxide and water, beneath the surface rocks in Gale Crater.
For years, scientists have been searching for signs of these minerals, but their presence was elusive. The Curiosity rover’s drill analysis revealed siderite, a carbonate material formed with iron, at three different drill sites around Mount Sharp. This discovery provides strong evidence that Mars once had an atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide and liquid water on its surface.
The finding is significant because it suggests that ancient Martian rocks contain minerals formed by the interaction between carbon dioxide and water. These findings provide a potential explanation for why previous searches for these minerals have been unsuccessful, as satellites and rovers were unable to detect them due to their location within existing rock layers or limited drilling capabilities.
While the discovery of siderite doesn’t explain the complete loss of Mars’ atmosphere, it does support the idea that the Red Planet may have once been habitable for basic microorganisms. As scientists continue to explore Mars’ surface with future rovers and missions, new discoveries like this one will help refine our understanding of Mars’ evolution.
The research was conducted by scientists from various NASA centers, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ames Research Center, and John Space Center. The findings are published in a paper titled “Carbonates identified by the Curiosity rover indicate a carbon cycle operated on ancient Mars.”
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/articles/marss-atmosphere-used-to-be-thicker-has-curiosity-found-where-it-all-went