New findings reveal that tiny bits of ancient water are trapped inside one of the oldest Martian meteorites, known as NWA 7034 or Black Beauty. Using a cutting-edge method called neutron scanning, scientists are uncovering more about Mars’ watery past, which could hint at the possibility of life beyond Earth.
This 11-ounce piece of Mars was likely blasted into space when a larger rock hit the planet. Discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2011, Black Beauty stands out for its dark color, enhanced by polishing on one side.
Researchers pinpoint the meteorite’s origin to the Karratha crater, with its ejection happening between 5 and 10 million years ago. Surprisingly, the rock itself is around 4.44 billion years old, making it the oldest known Martian meteorite.
Since 2013, scientists have known about the water traces in Black Beauty. Recent studies suggest that some of this water was heated, sparking the hope that life could have existed in warm Martian waters.
To study this water without damaging the meteorite, researchers employed neutron scanning. This technique bombards the rock with neutrons, making it possible to find hydrogen atoms in the meteorite’s dense structure. The latest research shows that about 0.6% of Black Beauty’s mass is water. Though it may sound small, it’s more than past estimates indicated.
The trapped water exists mostly in tiny particles containing iron oxide, similar to rust, which forms under high pressure—like during a meteor impact. This water could shed light on how Mars lost most of its ancient oceans.
Interestingly, evidence suggests that Mars was once covered in large, Earth-like oceans until about 3 billion years ago. Now, much of that water is gone, but some remains locked in ice beneath the surface or at the peaks of Martian mountains.
As NASA recently ended its Mars sample-return mission, research on meteorites like Black Beauty becomes even more crucial for understanding Martian water and the planet’s history. Further studies on this meteorite could reveal how Mars originally gained its water and what that means for life beyond Earth.
