Scientists have discovered that volcanic ash and lava caves on Mars may contain traces of ancient microbial life, as detailed in studies published in September and November.
ExoMars mission and its search for ancient life
The upcoming “ExoMars Rosalind Franklin” rover mission, scheduled for launch in 2028, will explore the Oxia Planum region, estimated to be between 4 and 3.7 billion years old. This area contains dark rocks that may have preserved mineral-rich layers and potential traces of past life.
Using advanced onboard instruments, the rover will analyze samples and compare the rock composition with those found on Earth to identify possible biosignatures. The targeted terrain is too rough for the rover to traverse directly, so it will focus on studying broken rock fragments for evidence.
Lava caves as a potential biological archive
Parallel research conducted on volcanic caves on Lanzarote, a Spanish island, involved collaboration between scientists from the University of South Florida, Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Their findings suggest that such environments can preserve minerals and organic compounds, similar to what might exist in Martian lava caves. This insight could help refine methods for detecting biosignatures in extraterrestrial environments.
“Although we cannot study these Martian rocks in real time, the rover will capture images for detailed material analysis,” said Emma Harris, a doctoral researcher at the Natural History Museum in London. Harris and her team have been analyzing satellite data from Martian orbiters. “It can also use lasers to reveal their chemical composition, which we can then compare with Earth’s rocks to determine their nature.”
Implications for astrobiology and future exploration
Harris also noted that the rover will be unable to navigate directly on the ancient volcanic rocks of Oxia Planum due to their uneven surface. However, fractured rock samples may provide the necessary data to confirm theories about the deposition of volcanic ash.
Meanwhile, the Lanzarote study highlights that Martian lava caves could harbor preserved minerals and organic compounds, much like those found in terrestrial volcanic caves. This finding underscores the importance of studying such environments within the scope of astrobiology and the search for life beyond Earth.
By combining these research efforts with advanced technology, scientists are making significant strides in Martian exploration. A deeper understanding of the planet’s geological and climatic history is crucial in assessing the possibility of past habitability. The link between ancient microbial traces in Martian lava caves and mineral-rich layers formed by volcanic eruptions could mark a major breakthrough in humanity’s quest to understand life’s existence beyond Earth.
