A New Revelation of Clay Minerals Found on Mars

It has been assumed that large amount of clay minerals on Mars could have been formed later interactions with water on the surface. But this assumption has been nullified by a new research that reveals that it could have been formed after the planet's crust cooled down and took a solid form. Discussing of the possibilities it has been said that in the very early solar system, Mars and other rocky planets are assumed to have been covered by oceans of molten magma.

At the time when the magma ocean began to cool and solidify, water and other dissolved liquids would be evaporated to the surface. It led to the formation of a thick, steamy atmosphere around the planet. It took billions of years to the evolution of the planet. Volcanic activities and asteroid attacks would have covered the clays in some places and burrowed them in others. This process led to the patchy distribution of the clay in a large area that is seen on the planet. It has been said that those clay deposits doesn't require a warm and wet climate on early Red Planet. Scientists also said that the steam atmosphere that is related with the ocean of magma could have survived for as long as 10 million years or more.  There has been a possibility that a lot of water might have locked up in those clays that if heated up by any process, would release that water. It might provide a temporary water supply.

By: Anita Aishvarya

Content: www.sciencedaily.com