Martian Rock Analysis Reveals the Planet Had 'Secret Ingredient' That Was Ideal for Starting Life

Planet Mars has always been a focus for space enthusiasts and astronomers. There has always been hope of habitation on the planet, and researchers are on the lookout for clues to support or reject this assertion. Recently, experts stumbled upon evidence that gave them some indication regarding the past environment of this planet, stated Science Alert. Findings regarding this discovery have been published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment.

The evidence came from rocks in Jezero Crater. The Perseverance rover on Mars located the rocks and experts used the spacecraft's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy instrument to examine the samples. This tool releases a laser pulse on the subject, which results in the vaporization of a small amount of mineral from the object. Thereafter, the spectroscopy instrument examines the light released by the atoms and ions present in the mineral vapor. The whole process was applied to the rock, and researchers took note of the elements present in the released atoms and ions. 

Experts observed that the main component of this rock was a mineral called kaolinite. This mineral is soft and white. The silicate clay mineral found on Mars is slightly different from its Earth counterpart in hardness. The Martian sample is much more rigid, possibly because of the weathering it has endured over millenniums. "These rocks are very different from anything we've seen on Mars before," said planetary scientist, Roger Wiens, of Purdue University in the U.S. "They're enigmas."

The most noteworthy aspect of this discovery was that such minerals are typically formed in temperate and wet conditions. Based on their observations on Earth, researchers claimed that the conditions required for the formation of these rocks are similar to the circumstances required to foster some forms of microbial life  "On Earth, these minerals form where there is intense rainfall and a warm climate or in hydrothermal systems such as hot springs. Both environments are ideal conditions for life as we know it," Wiens explained. "These minerals are what's left behind when rock has been in flowing water for eons. Over time, the warm water leaches away all the elements except those that are really insoluble, leaving behind what we found on Mars. It's fascinating. It's unexpected on a cold, dry planet like Mars."

Because such minerals require water to flourish, researchers believe more information about these rocks will help them understand the water history of the planet. These rocks have been determined to be 'float' rocks. This implies that these items floated above the bedrock and came to their present location. Hence, the next step is to understand where these rocks were formed, and if there are traces of water in that area. The mineral can hold up water, and a detailed analysis will show if it can release water into the Martian atmosphere. "The big questions about Mars are about water," Wiens said. "How much water was there? How long was there water? Given how cold and dry Mars is now, where did all that water go? As a mineral, kaolinite has a lot of water bound up in its structure. It's possible that a lot of the water is still there, on Mars, bound up in the minerals."

Researchers also found a mineral called spinel in the rocks. On Earth spinel is known as magnesium aluminum gemstone. Experts claim that this mineral possibly arrived when the planet was experiencing an igneous or metamorphic environment.