An “amazing surprise” scientists reveal the age of water on Mars
Many scientists have long believed that Mars had water 3 billion years ago when its second geological era, known as the Hesperian, ended, but it disappeared during the current Amazonian era.
However, Chinese scientists announced an "amazing discovery". They said that wet minerals detected by a Chinese robotic rover on Mars in a huge depression believed to be the site of an ancient ocean indicate that water has been present on the surface of this planet for longer than previously thought.
They also explained in a research paper published in the “Science Advances” journal that, according to the analysis of data sent by the rovers, the Chorong spacecraft, indications of the presence of water were detected in mineral samples dating back only 700 million years ago, according to Reuters reported Thursday.
In addition, they added, the mineral-bearing soils in the samples collected by Chorong have a hard crust that may have formed from upwelling groundwater or evaporated glacial melt since then.
It is noteworthy that the Zurong rover has moved about two kilometers from its landing site and has been collecting data since its arrival to Mars in May last year.
Source: websites