NASA Discovers New Minerals on Mars That Could Indicate Past Water Activity

NASA has announced the discovery of two important minerals on Mars — vivianite and greigite — that scientists say strengthen the evidence for ancient water activity on the Red Planet.

Both minerals typically form in environments where water is present, suggesting that the areas where they were found may have once hosted lakes or groundwater systems. The discovery was made using instruments aboard the Perseverance rover.

“Both minerals typically form in environments where water is present, suggesting that the areas where they were found may have once hosted lakes or groundwater systems.”

"These minerals are like a chemical fingerprint of water," explained a NASA scientist. "Finding them on Mars tells us that liquid water persisted there long enough to leave a lasting mark on the geology."