Researchers said they were able to study the way volcanism shaped the crust and mantle of Mars based on the meteorites that broke off the red planet and landed on Earth, millions of years ago, according to the research published in Science Advances. &nbsp;

<h2>About the study</h2>

The researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego said that they were able to ascertain that Mars has a distinct structure in its mantle and crust with discernible reservoirs thanks to the meteorites which broke off the red planet 11 million years ago.&nbsp;

“Martian meteorites are the only physical materials we have available from Mars,” said geologist James Day from the Scripps Oceanography Institute. The rocks analysed by Day and his team came in two forms – chassignites and nakhlites.&nbsp;

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The rocks allowed researchers to “make precise and accurate measurements and then quantify processes that occurred within Mars and close to the martian surface,” the geologist added.&nbsp;

He added, “They provide direct information on Mars’ composition that can ground truth mission science, like the ongoing Perseverance rover operations taking place there.”

One of the meteorites examined was chassignites, after a rock found in 1815 in Chassign, France and nakhlites after a specimen uncovered in Nakhla, Egypt, in 1905.

<h2>What did the researchers find?</h2>

According to the study, the two kinds of rocks also have different compositions, with nakhlite being a basaltic form of rock which includes minerals like augite and olivine. However, chassignite is almost entirely olivine.

After the analysis of the rocks, researchers found that they were once formed in the same Martian volcano around 1.3 billion years ago.&nbsp;

Upon careful examination and comparison, they were also able to determine that nakhlites were part of the Martian crust and the chassignites were part of the mantle below.&nbsp;

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According to Day, by determining that the two rock formations are from the same volcanic system and that they interacted with Martian crust that was altered by atmospheric interactions, researchers can now identify a new rock type on the red planet.&nbsp;

He also noted that Mars’ volcanism has “incredible similarities,” but also differences to that of Earth’s. According to Day, similar nakhlites and chassignites were found in recent volcanism in places like Oahu in Hawaii.&nbsp;

On the other hand, the reservoirs in Mars are “extremely ancient” and seemed to have separated from one another shortly after the red planet formed, the researcher added.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Researchers said they were able to study the way volcanism shaped the crust and mantle of Mars based on the meteorites that broke off the red planet and landed on Earth, millions of years ago, according to the research published in Science Advances.

Researchers said they were able to study the way volcanism shaped the crust and mantle of Mars based on the meteorites that broke off the red planet and landed on Earth, millions of years ago, according to the research published in Science Advances. About the study The researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego said that they were able to ascertain that Mars has a distinct structure in its mantle and crust with discernible reservoirs thanks to the meteorites which broke off the red planet 11 million years ago. “Martian meteorites are the only physical materials we have available from Mars,” said geologist James Day from the Scripps Oceanography Institute. The rocks analysed by Day and his team came in two forms – chassignites and nakhlites. Also Read | NASA debunks reports of ‘planetary parade’, gives list of celestial events for June The rocks allowed researchers to “make precise and accurate measurements and then quantify processes that occurred within Mars and close to the martian surface,” the geologist added. He added, “They provide direct information on Mars’ composition that can ground truth mission science, like the ongoing Perseverance rover operations taking place there.” One of the meteorites examined was chassignites, after a rock found in 1815 in Chassign, France and nakhlites after a specimen uncovered in Nakhla, Egypt, in 1905. What did the researchers find? According to the study, the two kinds of rocks also have different compositions, with nakhlite being a basaltic form of rock which includes minerals like augite and olivine. However, chassignite is almost entirely olivine. After the analysis of the rocks, researchers found that they were once formed in the same Martian volcano around 1.3 billion years ago. Upon careful examination and comparison, they were also able to determine that nakhlites were part of the Martian crust and the chassignites were part of the mantle below. Also Read | A group of mammals suddenly disappeared 50,000 years ago. Ancient bone collagen might tell why According to Day, by determining that the two rock formations are from the same volcanic system and that they interacted with Martian crust that was altered by atmospheric interactions, researchers can now identify a new rock type on the red planet. He also noted that Mars’ volcanism has “incredible similarities,” but also differences to that of Earth’s. According to Day, similar nakhlites and chassignites were found in recent volcanism in places like Oahu in Hawaii. On the other hand, the reservoirs in Mars are “extremely ancient” and seemed to have separated from one another shortly after the red planet formed, the researcher added. (With inputs from agencies)

Millions of years old pieces of Mars that landed on Earth reveal ancient volcanic secret

Scientists have recently unravelled the mystery of "The Great Unconformity," a phenomenon where large sections of the Earth's crust are missing from the geological record.&nbsp;

Experts have now concluded that this gap most likely emerged from the intense glacial erosion during a period known as "Snowball Earth," when much of the planet was covered in ice.

<h2>Glacial erosion led to gap in sedimentary record</h2>

The process of glacial erosion, occurring during this ancient time, led to a significant removal of rocks, creating a gap in the sedimentary record.&nbsp;

This geological oddity was first observed in 1869 at the Grand Canyon in Arizona when experts noticed a sudden change in the age of rocks, a pattern found in various locations globally.

A recent study estimated that an astonishing 3-5 kilometres of rock globally were eroded due to glacial activity, leaving a billion cubic kilometres of pre-Cambrian material missing from records.

The pre-Cambrian refers to the earliest part of Earth's history.

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Dr Brenhin Keller, the lead author of the study, highlighted the colossal scale of rock loss.&nbsp;

His theory proposes that more extensive erosion occurred before the Phanerozoic era than previously believed.

The Phanerozoic is the current and the latest of the four geologic eons in the Earth's geologic time scale, covering the time period from 538.8 million years ago to the present.

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Evidence, including isotopes of hafnium and oxygen found in crystals from that era, supports the idea that these materials were eroded from old rock and deposited at low temperatures.

Their theory also suggests this is why there are many asteroid craters less than 700 million years old and only two that are dated older than that.

<h2>Current whereabouts of the missing rock</h2>

The researchers argue that glaciers responsible for eroding sedimentary rocks also carried them to the sea, providing a possible explanation for the current whereabouts of the missing rocks.&nbsp;

This discovery sheds light on Earth's ancient history and the dynamic processes that have shaped its geological landscape.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have recently unravelled the mystery of "The Great Unconformity," a phenomenon where large sections of the Earth's crust are missing from the geological record.

Scientists have recently unravelled the mystery of "The Great Unconformity," a phenomenon where large sections of the Earth's crust are missing from the geological record. Experts have now concluded that this gap most likely emerged from the intense glacial erosion during a period known as "Snowball Earth," when much of the planet was covered in ice. Glacial erosion led to gap in sedimentary record The process of glacial erosion, occurring during this ancient time, led to a significant removal of rocks, creating a gap in the sedimentary record. This geological oddity was first observed in 1869 at the Grand Canyon in Arizona when experts noticed a sudden change in the age of rocks, a pattern found in various locations globally. A recent study estimated that an astonishing 3-5 kilometres of rock globally were eroded due to glacial activity, leaving a billion cubic kilometres of pre-Cambrian material missing from records. The pre-Cambrian refers to the earliest part of Earth's history. Watch: China: Scientists develop powerful hydrogen therapy that could reverse ageing × Dr Brenhin Keller, the lead author of the study, highlighted the colossal scale of rock loss. His theory proposes that more extensive erosion occurred before the Phanerozoic era than previously believed. The Phanerozoic is the current and the latest of the four geologic eons in the Earth's geologic time scale, covering the time period from 538.8 million years ago to the present. Also read: Chum salmon are breeding in Arctic, and it is `an ominous sign’ for humanity Evidence, including isotopes of hafnium and oxygen found in crystals from that era, supports the idea that these materials were eroded from old rock and deposited at low temperatures. Their theory also suggests this is why there are many asteroid craters less than 700 million years old and only two that are dated older than that. Current whereabouts of the missing rock The researchers argue that glaciers responsible for eroding sedimentary rocks also carried them to the sea, providing a possible explanation for the current whereabouts of the missing rocks. This discovery sheds light on Earth's ancient history and the dynamic processes that have shaped its geological landscape. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists now know what happened to a chunk of Earth’s crust missing for millions of years

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