Meteorite Found In A University Drawer Contains Evidence Of Water On Mars | No One Knows How It Got There!

By Kushani Gunathilaka
November 18, 2024
12:04 GMT-0830
Meteorite Found In A University Drawer Contains Evidence Of Water On Mars | No One Knows How It Got There!

In 1931, a fascinating discovery was made at Purdue University in Indiana. It is a meteorite weighing about 800 grams was found tucked away in a desk drawer. What made this rock extraordinary was its Martian origin. Known as the Lafayette meteorite, this piece of Mars held secrets of water activity on the Red Planet from 742 million years ago. It is a time long after scientists believed liquid water had disappeared from its surface. The story of the Lafayette meteorite could possibly answer many mysteries about Mars. Let’s have a closer look.

The Lafayette Meteorite: An Accidental Discovery

The Lafayette meteorite’s story began with its unexpected discovery in Purdue University’s collection in 1931. While its presence in a desk drawer might seem mundane, this rock was anything but ordinary. Scientists identified it as a nakhlite. It is a rare type of Martian meteorite that originates from volcanic activity on Mars.

What Are Nakhlites?


Nakhlites, like Lafayette, are igneous rocks. They are formed from ancient volcanic activity. Their geological makeup offers valuable insights into Mars’s history. Scientists believe Lafayette came from a crater on the basaltic plains near Elysium Mons, an extinct volcano on Mars.

By studying cosmic ray exposure, researchers determined that the meteorite had been traveling through space for about 11 million years after being blasted off Mars by a massive impact. This impact likely sent Lafayette and other nakhlites spinning into space, where they drifted until landing on Earth.

Mars and the Mystery of Water 742 Million Years Ago

One of Lafayette’s most fascinating revelations came when scientists analyzed water-altered minerals in the meteorite. These minerals dated back 742 million years. They provide evidence that the rock had interacted with liquid water during its time on Mars.

But this discovery presented a puzzle. Mars is thought to have lost its liquid water over 3 billion years ago. How could water have existed 742 million years ago?

The answer lies beneath the Martian surface. According to Marissa Tremblay, the lead researcher from Purdue University, the water was likely formed by melting subsurface permafrost.

“We do not think there was abundant liquid water on the surface of Mars at this time. Instead, we think the water came from the melting of nearby sub-surface ice called permafrost, and that the permafrost melting was caused by magmatic activity that still occurs periodically on Mars to the present day.”

Marissa Tremblay, the lead researcher from Purdue University

This interaction between volcanic heat and subsurface ice must have created localized liquid water. It has left its mark on the Lafayette meteorite before it was launched into space.


Lafayette Meteorite’s Journey to Earth

Scientists used creative methods to determine when Lafayette arrived on Earth. An earlier study in 2022 revealed contamination on the meteorite, including traces of vomitoxin—a crop disease that became widespread in the early 1900s. Based on this evidence, researchers pinpointed the meteorite’s fall to around 1919 in semi-rural Indiana.

How did Lafayette end up at Purdue University? Researchers theorize that a student witnessed the meteorite fall into a crop field and brought it back to campus. This seemingly random act preserved a piece of Mars’s history that would later offer groundbreaking insights into the Red Planet’s geological and hydrological past.

Scientific Insights and Ongoing Mysteries

The Lafayette meteorite has been instrumental in expanding our understanding of Mars. Its volcanic origin near Elysium Mons connects it to a period of magmatic activity that caused permafrost melting and localized liquid water. The study of nakhlites like Lafayette provides clues about Mars’s climate, geology, and even its potential to support life in the past.

Tremblay and her team’s findings have opened the door to new questions: How many other meteorites hold untapped secrets about Mars’s history? Could future discoveries reveal more about the Red Planet’s mysterious past?


Conclusion

The Lafayette meteorite’s journey from Mars to a desk drawer at Purdue University is a story of serendipity and science. From its accidental discovery to its groundbreaking revelations about water on Mars, this small rock has bridged gaps in our understanding of the Red Planet’s geological and hydrological history.

Its story reminds us of the incredible potential hidden in unexplored meteorites and the value of interdisciplinary research in unraveling the mysteries of our universe.

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