Researchers working with the Curiosity rover have discovered new evidence that there was a habitable environment on Mars billions of years ago. The study is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Curiosity discovered large amounts of manganese oxide in Gale Crater rocks that were once part of an ancient lake. This mineral is commonly found in Earth’s lakes due to the highly oxidizing conditions that cause manganese crystals to form in the presence of oxygen.
Researchers working with the Curiosity rover have discovered new evidence that there was a habitable environment on Mars billions of years ago. The study is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Curiosity discovered large amounts of manganese oxide in Gale Crater rocks that were once part of an ancient lake. This mineral is commonly found in Earth’s lakes due to the highly oxidizing conditions that cause manganese crystals to form in the presence of oxygen.
“Manganese minerals are common in the shallow, high-oxygen waters found on the shores of Earth’s lakes, and it is remarkable to find such distinctive features on ancient Mars.”
Where this oxygen came from is another question that remains unanswered, although it is possible that meteorite impacts early in Mars’ history released oxygen from surface ice deposits.
