Despite the fact that we have yet to set foot on Mars, new data from the Mars rover Curiosity show a higher content of silicon than previously expected in some of the rocks in the Gale Crater, according to a press release. The University of Copenhagen researchers believe that this environment may be ideal for bacterial growth due to the fact that silica accumulation typically requires a combination of both heat and water.
"We have found an area with surprisingly high levels of silicon, and we are now working with several theories as to how this high concentration of silicon was formed. All the theories require large amounts of water and here on Earth a high silicon content is often associated with environments where there are excellent opportunities for life," said Jens Frydenvang, who works for the Mars Group at the Niels Bohr Institute.
One of the main theories is that the Gale Crater was exposed to acidic water, which was able to wash away all of the other elements but left the silicon there. Another theory is that the silicon was transferred from other places, which would only be possible with alkaline or pH-neutral water.
Another interesting finding is the discovery of the siliceous mineral called tridymite, which is not only rare on Earth but has never been detected on Mars.
"These new findings are both exciting and surprising," said Morten Bo Madsen, head of the Mars Group at the Niels Bohr Institute. "As we develop the understanding of the new findings in Gale Crater we may better understand the potential for early development of biology on Mars. Hypotheses for the formation of the silicon-compounds found involve hydrothermal activity and on Earth these kinds of environments are recognized as being conducive to microbial life and for preserving traces for posterity."
