Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US have discovered unusually high concentrations of manganese in rocks from Gale Crater on Mars, providing new insights into habitable conditions on the planet.
The discovery was made using the ChemCam instrument on NASA’s Curiosity rover, according to a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research Planets. The research indicates that the analyzed sediments come from an ancient aquatic environment, such as a river, delta or the edge of a lake, which could have supported life.
The process of forming manganese oxide on Mars is considered difficult, given that the current Martian atmosphere does not support the presence of oxygen necessary for the oxidation of manganese. The discovery of these manganese-rich deposits on the shores of an ancient lake is a major surprise for scientists. Patrick Gasda, the leader of the Los Alamos team, compares this phenomenon to similar deposits on Earth, which form in the presence of oxygen produced by photosynthetic life.
The ChemCam instrument, the essential element of discovery
The ChemCam instrument, developed in collaboration with the French space agency CNES, analyzes the chemical composition of Martian rocks using the technique of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). This process involves using a powerful laser to vaporize the material, which is then analyzed to determine the chemical components.
Surprisingly, although there is no clear evidence of life on Mars to explain the production of oxygen, manganese oxide has been found in significant quantities.
The discovery provides new insight into historical conditions on Mars, suggesting that Gale Crater may have once hosted an environment similar to Earth’s lakes, thus contributing to discussions about the planet’s potential habitable conditions in its ancient era.
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