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Mars Oasis: Red Planet Once a Tropical Paradise?
8 Dec
Summary
- Bizarre bleached rocks suggest Mars was a warm, wet tropical oasis.
- Kaolinite clay, forming under tropical conditions on Earth, found on Mars.
- Evidence suggests Mars could have supported life billions of years ago.
New analysis of bizarre bleached rocks on Mars indicates the Red Planet could have once been a tropical oasis. Fragments found by NASA's Perseverance rover suggest a history of warm, wet conditions lasting for millions of years, possibly resembling Earth's Amazon or Guinean Forests.
These rocks, primarily kaolinite clay, are a strong indicator of ancient tropical environments. On Earth, this mineral forms after extensive leaching by water over long periods, supporting the theory that Mars experienced significant rainfall billions of years ago.
The discovery in Jezero Crater, which once held a large lake, adds to the growing evidence that Mars was once a far wetter planet. This habitable past raises intriguing possibilities about the potential for ancient life on our neighboring world.
