Scientists Date Mars Ocean at 0.8-1.5 Million Years From 3,300-Km Manganese Ring
Updated
Updated · Earth.com · May 27
Scientists Date Mars Ocean at 0.8-1.5 Million Years From 3,300-Km Manganese Ring
2 articles · Updated · Earth.com · May 27
A manganese-oxide "bathtub ring" around Utopia Planitia indicates an ancient Martian ocean persisted for 0.8 to 1.5 million years—the first firm lifespan estimate for the basin's water.
The ring marks where shallow water met air: manganese concentrations rose from 2.7% to 7.4% over about 9 meters, then stopped sharply at an upper boundary, matching shoreline chemistry seen on Earth.
Researchers used a custom AI model, SCANet, trained on 13,742 lab spectra and applied to more than 5.7 million measurements from China's Zhurong rover plus U.S. and European orbiters; rover laser data backed the results.
The mapping also suggests the Hesperian-era ocean was shallower than earlier estimates, at roughly 150 to 400 meters deep, with later lava flows and polar cold-climate activity obscuring parts of the record.
Because a million-year stable ocean exceeds the minimum window many scientists consider necessary for prebiotic chemistry, the manganese-rich rim becomes a prime target for future life-search missions and possible oxygen production.
Ancient Martian shorelines hold a key to breathable air. How can future missions turn these mineral rings into oxygen for astronauts?
How does a million-year Martian ocean rewrite our search for ancient life and our understanding of the Red Planet's past?
An AI found Mars' ancient ocean. What other secrets of our solar system will this revolutionary technology uncover next?
Discovery of a 3,300-km Manganese Ring on Mars Pinpoints Ancient Ocean’s Duration and Habitability Window
Overview
A vast 3,300-kilometer manganese 'bathtub ring' has been discovered in Mars' Utopia Planitia region, providing the first direct evidence and timing for an ancient Martian ocean. This manganese ring acts as a geological clock, revealing that the ocean lasted about 0.8 to 1.5 million years during the Hesperian period. Manganese (hydr)oxides, which form in the presence of oxygen, are key to tracing the planet's water and atmospheric history. The discovery not only uncovers Mars' wetter past but also highlights stable, oxidizing conditions that could have supported life, reshaping our understanding of the planet's habitability.