Martian Meteorite ‘Black Beauty’ Reveals 4.45 Billion-Year-Old Water Evidence

Scientists have discovered what appears to be the oldest direct proof of hot water streaming on Mars during its ancient past. This groundbreaking finding could indicate that the Red Planet, despite its current arid and lonesome appearance, may have been capable of supporting life billions of years ago.

The Martian Meteorite ‘Black Beauty’

The evidence was delivered to Earth within the well-known Martian meteorite NWA7034, found in the Sahara Desert in 2011.

Due to its black, highly polished appearance, the Martian rock is also known as “Black Beauty.” At an estimated 2 billion years old, Black Beauty is the second oldest Martian meteorite ever discovered.

A 4.45 Billion-Year-Old Zircon Grain

However, researchers from Curtin University discovered something even older within it: a 4.45 billion-year-old zircon grain that harbors the fingerprints of fluids rich in water.

“We used nano-scale geochemistry to detect elemental evidence of hot water on Mars 4.45 billion years ago,” said Aaron Cavosie from Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, according to LiveScience.com.

Implications for Life on Mars

Hydrothermal systems, which were essential for the development of life on Earth, may have also existed on Mars. “Our findings suggest Mars also had water, a key ingredient for habitable environments, during the earliest history of crust formation,” Cavosie added.

The team identified specific elements in this unique zircon fragment through nano-scale imaging and spectroscopy, including iron, aluminum, yttrium, and sodium.

'Northwest Africa 7034' (Black Beauty) is a Martian meteorite believed to be the second oldest yet discovered. It is estimated to be 4.43 billion years old and contains the most water of any Martian meteorite found on Earth. The meteorite was found by nomads in Rabt Sbayta,… pic.twitter.com/gQlI57CUEl

— Black Hole (@konstructivizm) November 27, 2024

Mars’ Watery Past

Evidence of waterways and ancient lakebeds on Mars had previously led scientists to theorize that water was present on the Red Planet in liquid form and in great abundance around 4.1 billion years ago.

This new research implies that water in liquid form may have existed on Mars even earlier than previously expected in the planet’s pre-Noachian period.

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