A new finding from NASA’s Perseverance rover has revealed evidence of an ancient river system buried deep beneath the surface of Mars, offering fresh insights into the planet’s past and its potential to support life.
While the Jezero Delta has long been considered a key sign of ancient water activity, data from the rover’s RIMFAX ground-penetrating radar suggests a much older and more extensive underground delta system existed beneath it. This discovery indicates that water flowed on Mars for a longer period than previously understood.
The findings point to an extended phase of fluvial activity, including sediment deposition and water-driven geological changes. Researchers believe this prolonged presence of water may have created more favorable conditions for habitability in Mars’ early history.
“Overall, RIMFAX elucidates a broader fluvial system than what was observed from orbit, and indicates an extended window of fluvial deposition, aqueous alteration, and habitable conditions than previously envisioned at Jezero crater,” said geomicrobiologist Emily Cardarelli.
The rover collected data across 78 traverses between September 2023 and February 2024, covering a distance of 6.1 km. Using radar capable of penetrating depths beyond 35 m, scientists identified layered rock formations arranged in patterns typically formed by flowing water on Earth.
These subsurface structures include channels, sediment deposits, buried boulders, and erosion features, all pointing to a dynamic river system that once shaped the region. The data suggests the underground formation, known as the Margin unit, could be up to 85 to 90 m thick, formed through multiple episodes of deposition and erosion.
The research also indicates that Mars may have hosted such water systems as early as 4.2 to 3.7 billion years ago, during the Noachian period. This significantly extends the timeline during which the planet may have supported habitable conditions.
“RIMFAX has revealed an earlier subsurface deltaic environment under the present-day delta, thereby extending the period of potential habitability for Jezero back further in time,” Cardarelli added.
The discovery strengthens the case that Mars experienced multiple phases of flowing water rather than a short-lived wet period. It also raises the possibility that subsurface environments could preserve biosignatures, offering valuable clues in the ongoing search for past life on the Red Planet.
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