Introduction

In a groundbreaking revelation, scientists have unveiled that liquid water once roamed the surface of Mars 742 million years ago, as evidenced by the Lafayette Meteorite. This meteorite, which journeyed from Mars to Earth, was ejected in a colossal asteroid impact 11 million years ago. Its remarkable story began when it was rediscovered in a drawer at Purdue University in 1931, making it one of the rare meteorites conclusively traced back to the Red Planet.

Research Findings

The latest research, conducted by an international team of scientists including Marissa Tremblay, a leading expert in the field from Purdue’s College of Science, has shed new light on the minerals within the Lafayette Meteorite. These minerals were formed in the presence of liquid water, prompting excitement among the scientific community. Tremblay explains, “By dating these minerals, we can pinpoint the timeline of when liquid water was present on Mars—an essential step to understanding Mars' past.”

The team utilized noble gases such as helium, neon, and argon to analyze the meteorite's geological history. Their findings, published in *Geochemical Perspective Letters*, indicate that while there was not abundant liquid water on the Martian surface 742 million years ago, the water likely originated from melting subsurface ice, known as permafrost. This melting was potentially fueled by magmatic activity that continues to occur on Mars even today.

Methodology and Accuracy

What makes this study particularly fascinating is the robustness of their dating. Tremblay highlighted, “We ensured that the age measurements weren't skewed by the cosmic impacts or the heating experiences during its journey through space, or even upon entering Earth's atmosphere.” This meticulous approach has allowed the research team to confidently assert the timeline of aqueous alteration experienced by the Lafayette Meteorite.

Collaborative Efforts

Co-author Ryan Ickert also contributed significantly to this research, using isotopic data to clarify earlier uncertainties surrounding the timings of water-rock interaction on Mars. “This meteorite provides clear evidence of its interaction with water. Our research definitively establishes when water might have existed on the Martian surface,

Significance of Meteorites