China K Jurong Mars The rover has found evidence of an ancient beach on the Red Planet.
According to the details given in the journal Scientific Reports, the coastline in the South Utopia region is possibly a The sea are remnants of Mars that existed for a brief period in the early history of Mars 3.5 billion years ago.
The Jurong rover landed on Mars in May 2021, analyzing deposits in Vastas Borealis, a low-lying plain in the planet’s northern hemisphere.
The region, located in the northern lowlands of the planet, has long been speculated to have once contained an ocean.
The finer grains of minerals found here, such as hydrated silica, are more consistent with coastal areas than with volcanic activity.
The researchers analyzed data from the Jurong Rover and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2005, to estimate the age and composition of surface minerals found in the southern Utopia planetia.
This analysis reveals various geological features in this part of the planet, such as trenches and mud channels or channels, which are consistent with an ancient coastal region.
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The analysis led the researchers to suspect that the deposits were formed by a possible flood event about 3.68 billion years ago. The coast may have been formed by a short-lived sea, whose surface probably froze and disappeared 3.42 billion years ago.
The researchers said: ‘We conducted a comprehensive geomorphological analysis of the landing area using remote sensing data, including in situ observations and revealed features consistent with a near-coastal area in southern Utopia.’
Scientists caution that the Jurong rover’s measurements do not provide direct evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars.
But the analysis raises the possibility that a significant reservoir of water may exist in the region of southern Utopia Planetia, adding to our understanding of the evolution of Mars.
The researchers hope that these findings will help in the selection of possible landing sites for future missions to investigate the possible presence of ancient water reservoirs on Mars and the geology of the planet.
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