Hematite Is A Mineralogical Marker Of Ancient Climate Change On Mars

Scientists Just Discovered Mars Was Nothing Like We Thought

Scientists Just Discovered Mars Was Nothing Like We ThoughtMars may have once been far wetter and more habitable than scientists ever imagined, as new discoveries from NASA’s Perseverance rover reveal evidence of ancient water, long-lasting rainfall, and clay minerals formed under surprisingly wet conditions. In this video, we explore the mystery of ancient Mars, the Noachian epoch, the discovery of kaolinite, the search for past life on the Red…

Hematite Is A Mineralogical Marker Of Ancient Climate Change On Mars

The ancient climate of Mars changed from warm to cold surface conditions. This climate transition is demonstrated by geomorphological evidence but lacks suitable mineralogical indicators. We investigated the crystallographic properties of hematite (iron oxide) in Gale crater measured by the Curiosity rover and compared them with laboratory experiments. Hematite crystallite sizes are about 5 to 65 nm in the oldest sedimentary rocks investigated b…