Mars Rocks Link to Living Organisms 4 Billion Years Ago Options

[Proplyd]

http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Rocks_On_...rs_Ago_999.html

Groundbreaking research on Clay-Carbonate rock hydrothermal formation in the Mars Nili Fossae region links to living organisms roughly 4 billion years ago period. Hydrothermally altered ultramafic or perhaps komatiitic rocks make up the carbonate bearing rocks. The carbonates are not pure Mg-carbonate, and the talc is present in close to the carbonate. High-Mg precursor rocks have altered the talc-carbonates.

The associated hydrothermal activity would have provided sufficient energy for biology at early Nili Fossae. The Archean East Pilbara region of Western Australia volcanics is an analog for the Nochian Nili Fossae. It could have preserved biomarkers or evidence of living organisms, if produced at Nili, as the Pilbara craton North Pole Dome region has.

This significant new finding in the Nili Fossae region highlights similarities between traces of life on early Earth and Mars. It suggests a landing site for an exobiology mission to Mars.