You are not logged in.
I realised that we don't appear to have a topic in which to discuss general scientific discoveries about Mars.
*****************
Mars had (has?) a global magma-crust interface, much like Earth.
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/ … ts-surface
This has significant implications for past and present habitability, as well as implications for a human future on the planet.
Specifically:
1. Much of the Martian subsurface may have been warmer than previously expected. This would have allowed subsurface water to have persisted across vast swathes of the planet. This has implications for finding extinct and extant life, as well as development of ore bodies.
2. Magmatic activity is important in the formation of metallic ore bodies on Earth. It's widespread presence on Mars suggests that the same ore formation processes took place there.
3. The presence of a magma network implies that geothermal power may be accessible over a larger part of the Martian surface than previously assumed.
4. If the deep Martian crust was warm and wet for a large part of its history, serpentinisation (and life) will have generated substantial hydrogen and methane. The Martian upper crust is old compared to that of Earth. A large portion of hydrogen and methane generated by processes in the deep crust will presumably be trapped in place. This suggests that Mars should have fossil hydrogen and methane deposits that future human settlers can use.
It isn't clear from the article whether the magmatic network is an extent feature, or an extinct feature of the Martian crust. If it remains extant, then the potential for discovery of existing subsurface microbial life is much greater. It would also impact accessibility of liquid water and geothermal heat.
The Martian crust is extremely old and most of it has not been subject to resurfacing for billions of years. This suggests to me that most metal ores resulting from magmatic activity are going to be buried deep within the crust. That may complicate future mining efforts.
Last edited by Calliban (2026-07-26 11:35:52)
"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."
Offline
Like button can go here
This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be added to this topic by NewMars members.
This topic would appear to have significant upside potential.
Index:
Post #3: Calliban - much of the crust of Mars may be unaltered since the planet formed - implications
(th)
Offline
Like button can go here
A meteorite blasted off of Mars 1 billion years ago provides some interesting insights into the evolution of the Martian crust.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/1- … red-planet
It turns out that large parts of the planet's crust has remained unaltered since it's formation. This is surprising, as we also know that other parts of the planet experienced substantial aqueous alteration. Unlike Earth, Mars is a static lid planet. It has never experienced plate tectonics. On Earth, the majority of the crust has been melted and re-melted. It is difficult to find rocks older than a few billion years. Mars never had these processes. So large parts of its crust are geological fossils. They are pristine relics of the early solar system.
What exactly this means for the future habitability of the planet is hard to say. If much of the crust is primitive, it may be more difficult than we thought to find useful minerals. But from a scientific viewpoint, it is an opportunity to study a planetary crust that is virtually unaltered since the early days of the solar system. Whilst areas of early Mars have been described as habitable, this discovery is a reminder that in many way, Mars is a very different planet to Earth.
Last edited by Calliban (2026-08-12 15:57:51)
"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."
Offline
Like button can go here