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and our ongoing efforts to understand that planet's ancient habitability, evidence is so far elusive. But scientists have an idea where the evidence is likely hiding: in sediments.Where should we search for evidence of life on Mars? It's not obvious, though regions with plenty of sediments are a good starting point.
Instead of exploring the region where the sediments flowed into, scientists should focus on the source of the sediments. The vast flood channels stretching from the highlands into the lowlands are a region that's so vast it's almost impossible to explore. There's also the complicated task of differentiating between sediments from different sources in the enormous region. The flat basin in Hydraotes Chaos could simplify exploration.
"Our research focuses on a sedimentary unit within Hydraotes Chaos, which we interpret to be the remnants of a mud lake formed by discharges from gas-charged mudstone stratigraphy dating back to nearly 4 billion years ago, a time when the surface of Mars was likely habitable. These sediments might harbor evidence of life from that or subsequent periods," said Rodriguez.
This figure from the research shows some of the detail behind the mud lake's formation. Note the inter-linked chambers underground and how an igneous intrusion helped drive water and sediment into a subsidence basin, which is the mud lake. "Initially, biomolecules could have been dispersed throughout the volume of large groundwater filled cavities." Rodriguez said.
"A small rover could within short distances sample the mud lake sediments and these materials, dramatically increasing the odds of biosignature detection."
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