They discovered the Mars meteorite with more water content: it would indicate the existence of life on the planet

A Group of scientists managed to decipher the great mystery that hides behind the Black stone that had fallen from heaven in the desert of Saharadiscovered by a group of Saharawi, and was later sold to an American collector. After more than 10 years of researchthe certainty that the material came from the cortex of Mars He intensified and revealed a big surprise.

Known as “Black Beauty“, this meteorite officially called Northwest Africa 7034it has a weight of 320 grams and was found in the desert of Western Sahara In 2011 and subsequently sold in Morocco to a collector, product of its unique and special characteristics.

The surprising finding of scientists was that they determined that “Black Beauty” contains 10 times more water than any other Martian meteoritewhich highlights its unique composition by having minerals Very old and young people glued to each other.

The recent study was specified in a grain of zircon found in the meteorite, that is, in the Geologically minerals important that contain and can retain primary chronological information. In the case of this zircon, it was determined that possess 4,450 million yearsconsecrating as belonging to one of the earlier stages of the history of the red planet.

How unique to “Black Beauty”

So far, most meteorites from Mars They belong to subsequent geological periods, so the NWA 7034 It is key to providing information about how the Red planet at that time and the changes that it was presented until it is known today.

The greatest particularity that this meteorite has is that it contains 10 times more water than other Martian meteorites. While it was already known that he had water present in his cortex, the Microscopic analysis It allowed us to reveal many more data about its composition. The analyzed fragment contains aluminum, sodium and ironsomething quite out of the ordinary for a zirch of that origin.

The discovery allowed us to assume that crystallized low Hydrothermal conditionsthat is, in the presence of water at high temperature and in an oxidizing environment, due to the presence of small inclusions of magnetitean iron oxide. This particularity indicates that in the period PRE NOTIC OF MARTE4,450 million years ago, there were already hydrothermal conditions in the cortex of its surface.

It is possible to imagine and reinforce the theory that Mars had the necessary conditions to develop life From its beginnings, or to also generate environments suitable for the generation of Microbial life. However, the discovery and analysis of new elements mean a great advance for scientists seeking to determine Current characteristics of possible life on the Martian planet.