Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Scientists studying the Lafayette Meteorite, believed to have originated from Mars, have confirmed that it contains minerals formed through interaction with liquid water on the Martian surface.
Ejected from Mars around 11 million years ago, the Lafayette Meteorite travelled through space before landing on Earth near Purdue University. It was rediscovered in a campus drawer in 1931.
Using advanced dating methods, an international team, including Purdue University researchers, determined that the minerals indicating water formed roughly 742 million years ago on Mars.
Scientists suggest that this liquid water came from melted permafrost, likely caused by magmatic activity beneath Mars’ surface, rather than extensive liquid water bodies.
Researchers confirmed that the mineral dating was unaffected by the meteorite’s ejection from Mars or its entry into Earth’s atmosphere, ensuring reliable results.
This meteorite offers rare physical evidence of Martian water interactions, helping scientists better understand Mars’ geologic history and potential habitability.
The research team included scientists from Purdue University, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, and various UK institutions, underscoring the international collaboration in planetary studies.
Purdue researchers plan to continue investigating meteorites to uncover more about Mars’ past environments, contributing valuable insights into the presence and role of water on the planet.