2024-02-13 07:46:48
Chinese and American scientists have found evidence of circulation between the core and the surface of Mars 3.4 billion to 4 billion years ago, reported “Nature Astronomers”. Traces of this process have been preserved on the territory of the ancient Eridania lake, BTA reported.
We have found numerous traces on the topography of Eridania that indicate that this region of Mars was a zone of interaction between rocks from the planet’s crust and water from its interior. The rocks sank. In this respect, Mars was very similar to Earth from the Archaean era, when tectonic activity had not yet begun, said the study by scientists led by Prof. Joseph Michalski. They worked with photographs and scientific data obtained from the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey and MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter).
It is believed that in the past there was an ancient lake or small sea in the area of Eridania. The attention of astronomers was also attracted by the many volcanoes that were active in the early era of the existence of the planet. Mikalski and his colleagues were interested in the many traces of volcanic activity in the area, which is thought to have been under water or under ice 3.5-4 billion years ago. Astronomers have managed to identify 63 previously unknown volcanoes and other traces of volcanic activity on the territory of Eridania – dome-shaped objects with an unusually thin layer of crust. The analysis showed that the sedimentary rocks and associated crust were located in the interior.
Similar processes have occurred in other regions of Mars. These data support the theory of the circulation between the interior and the surface of the planet and the geochemical evolution of Mars and Earth in the early stages of the existence of the planets.