By Sheetal Kumari | March 3, 2025
Mars, the “Red Planet,” has fascinated scientists for centuries. A new study suggests that its red colour comes from ferrihydrite, an iron-rich mineral linked to Mars’ watery past.
(Image: Canva)
Mars’ surface is covered in iron oxide minerals. Researchers found that ferrihydrite, rather than hematite, is mainly responsible for its reddish hue.
(Image: Canva)
Ferrihydrite forms only in cold water conditions. This discovery suggests Mars once had liquid water, essential for potential past life on the planet.
(Image: Canva)
(Image: Canva)
Scientists created synthetic Martian dust in labs to study how ferrihydrite reacts to light and minerals, revealing new insights into Mars’ environmental history.
Previous theories linked Mars’ red colour to dry conditions. However, ferrihydrite requires a wetter, cooler environment, reshaping our understanding of Mars’ past climate.
(Image: Canva)
Mars was once warmer and wetter. Over time, its atmosphere thinned due to solar winds, making the planet dry and inhospitable to liquid water.
(Image: Canva)
NASA and ESA missions provided crucial data on Mars’ mineral composition, helping scientists understand the presence and role of ferrihydrite.
(Image: Canva)
By comparing mission data with lab experiments, researchers simulated Martian conditions, strengthening evidence for ferrihydrite’s role in Mars’ red appearance.
(Image: Canva)
NASA’s Perseverance rover is key to confirming these findings. It collects rock samples to determine if ferrihydrite exists and under what conditions it formed.
(Image: Canva)
This research suggests Mars’ red colour is not just a visual trait but a clue to its past, revealing a history of water and potential habitability.
(Image: Canva)