A small, unassuming meteorite measuring just 10 centimeters is shedding light on the history of Mars.
Discovered in 1931 in an old drawer at Purdue University, the rock is now the focus of a study revealing key details about the presence of water on our neighboring planet.
Understanding whether life once existed on Mars hinges on identifying the essential building blocks for life. To this end, scientists not only study the planet itself but also analyze Martian meteorites that have made their way to Earth over millions of years.
In a collaborative study by researchers from Purdue University in the U.S., alongside teams from the UK’s Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, the University of Bristol, and the University of Glasgow, the meteorite has been found to contain crucial evidence of water on Mars.
Meteorite Rediscovered After 94 Years in a Drawer
The meteorite, long forgotten in a drawer at Purdue University, was rediscovered in 1931.
Its exact journey to the drawer is still a mystery.
This fragment of Mars landed on Earth 11 million years ago after an asteroid struck the Red Planet, sending debris hurtling into space.
Meteorites like this one act as time capsules, preserving minerals that can provide insights into the conditions on other planets billions of years ago. According to the researchers, this particular meteorite holds a precise record of when water existed on Mars.
Minerals Pinpoint Water’s Presence on Mars
Initial studies of the meteorite confirmed it had been exposed to water on Mars.
Through detailed mineral analysis, researchers determined that the meteorite interacted with liquid water approximately 742 million years ago. This suggests that, at the time, liquid water existed either on Mars’ surface or just beneath it.
However, the researchers believe there wasn’t an abundance of liquid water. Instead, they theorize that ice below the Martian surface melted and interacted with the rock.
“This meteorite contains unique evidence that it reacted with water,” explains Ryan Ickert, a researcher from Purdue University involved in the study.
A Glimpse into Mars’ Icy Past
The findings, published in the journal Geochemical Perspectives Letters, hint at a colder, drier Mars with sporadic ice melting rather than vast oceans.
This research adds another piece to the puzzle of understanding Mars’ ancient environment and its potential for supporting life.
As scientists continue their search for life’s building blocks on Mars, meteorites like this serve as invaluable clues, bridging the gap between our distant past and the mysteries of the Red Planet.
