What a dry meteorite tells us about water on Mars

What a dry meteorite tells us about water on Mars: Researchers from Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland used neutron and X-ray tomography to detect hydrogen-rich regions in a Martian meteorite, "Black Beauty." The findings suggest that water once reacted with the Martian crust, leaving behind chemical traces. The study, published in *Geophysical Research Letters*, reveals macroscopic hydrogen deposits in the meteorite, indicating early water-rock interactions on Mars. The meteorite, weighing around 320 grams, is one of the oldest known Martian crust samples, dating back 4.48 billion years. The team used neutron tomography to detect hydrated minerals and hydrogen-bearing material in a 12 x 8 x 2 millimeter section of the meteorite, providing the first three-dimensional visualization of hydrogen-rich regions. The results suggest that water was present on Mars early in its history and could have been preserved in the form of hydrated minerals. The study highlights the importance of understanding the distribution and concentration of water in Martian rock, which is crucial for assessing the planet's early environment and potential habitability. The method developed could be applied to future Mars sample analysis to better map hydrogen in rock samples.

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