Distinctive feature of Mars The red color is due to the mineral ferrihydrite, which only forms in the presence of cool water, says a new study.
Ferrihydrite also forms at a lower temperature than other minerals that make up the surface of the aptly named Red Planet, such as hematite, which was previously thought to be the main reason for its ruddy hue.
“This suggests that Mars may have had an environment capable of supporting liquid water before it transitioned from a wet to a dry environment billions of years ago,” NASA said in a press release this week.
NASA partially funded the research.
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Mars' characteristic red color is caused by the mineral ferrihydrite, which only forms in the presence of cool water, a new study claims. (AFP via Getty Images)
Researchers in a study published this week in the journal Nature Communications analyzed data from several Mars missions, including several rovers, and compared the results with laboratory experiments “where the team tested how light interacts with ferrihydrite particles and other minerals under simulated Martian conditions.” NASA reported this.
“The fundamental question of why Mars is red has been addressed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years,” study lead author Adam Valantinas said in a statement.
Valantinas is a postdoctoral fellow at Brown University who began research as a Ph.D. student at the University of Bern in Switzerland.
He continued: “Based on our analysis, we believe that ferrihydrite is present throughout the dust, and probably also in the rocks. We're not the first to think ferrihydrite is the cause of Mars' red color, but we can now better test this by using observational data and new laboratory techniques to essentially create Martian dust in the lab.”
In this promotional material released by NASA, the Mars landscape is seen in a photograph taken by the Spirit rover's panoramic camera in 2003. (NASA/JPL/Cornell University via Getty Images)
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Senior study author Jack Mustard called the study “an opportunity to open doors.”
“This gives us a better chance of applying the principles of mineral formation and conditions to go back in time,” said Mustard, the Brown University professor. “However, what is even more important is the return of samples from Mars, which the Perseverance rover is collecting right now. When we get them back, we can actually check to see if it's correct.”
The study shows that in its ancient past, Mars likely had a cool but wet and potentially habitable climate.
Mars' atmosphere is too cold to support life now, but billions of years ago planet According to NASA, the planet had a lot of water, as evidenced by ferrihydrite found in its dust.
Laboratory sample of simulated Martian dust. (NASA/ADAM Valentin)
“These new results point to Mars' potentially habitable past and highlight the value of coordinated research between NASA and its international partners in exploring fundamental questions about our solar system and the future of space exploration,” said Geronimo Villanueva, associate director for strategic science in the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and co-author research.
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Valantinas said the researchers “want to understand the ancient Martian climate, the chemical processes on Mars – not only ancient, but also modern.”
He continued: “Then the question of habitability arises: did life ever exist? To understand this, you need to understand the conditions that were present during the formation of this mineral. What we do know from this study is evidence pointing to the formation of ferrihydrite, and for this to happen there had to be conditions where oxygen from the air or other sources and water could react with the iron. These conditions were very different from today's dry, cold environment. As Martian winds blew this dust everywhere, it created the planet's iconic red appearance.”
