Channels, moats and caves on Mars may have been carved by ancient water currents
Eight possible cave openings found on the surface of Mars appear to have received ancient streams of water that flowed into them – suggesting they could have been ideal for the development of life, if it ever existed on the Red Planet.
Mars is full of cavities that resemble cave entrances, but these are generally located in regions that are suspected to have been volcanically active, suggesting that they were formed by processes such as underground lava flows rather than the passage of water.
Now scientists say they have found promising places to look traces of life on Mars in caves excavated by water.
Scientists say they have identified eight possible caves that appear to have been produced by ancient water flows rather than volcanic activity.
The caves are located in Hebrus Valles, a northwestern region that contains hundreds of kilometers of valleys and depressions that appear to have been carved by ancient floods.
The new research shows elevated concentrations of carbonate minerals and sulfates, which normally form in the presence of water.
Evidence of ancient watercourses ending near the cave entrances was also found.
This is similar to what we observe in karst caves on Earthexplained to , James Baldinifrom the University of Durham, in the United Kingdom, who was not part of the study.
If it is confirmed that these are, in fact, caves formed by water, they could be Particularly good places to look for signs of life.
“For life to exist, there must be water and an environment protected from the intense radiation that reaches the surface of Mars. Volcanic caves and lava tubes are also reasonable places to look for life, but they do not necessarily involve water”, explains Baldini.
