# Chinese findings on Mars suggest water existed for longer on planet’s surface Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-05-12 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Chinese rover discovers hydrated minerals on Mars Meta Description: Chinese scientists found evidence of water on Mars in minerals dating back 700 million years, a significant discovery suggesting ancient surface water. URL: https://financedigest.com/chinese-findings-on-mars-suggest-water-existed-for-longer-on-planets-surfacehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-05-12t054457z1lynxnpei4b071rtroptp4space-exploration-china-mars-1736815738180-compressed.jpg) BEIJING (Reuters) – Hydrated minerals discovered by China’s robotic rover on Mars in a vast basin believed to be the site of an ancient ocean suggest water was present on the planet’s surface for longer than previously thought, said Chinese scientists. According to an analysis of data sent back by the rover, Zhurong, signs of water were detected in sampled minerals from just 700 million years ago, the scientists said in a paper https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn8555 published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. Mars is believed to have been wet until about 3 billion years ago, when the planet’s second geological age, known as the Hesperian Epoch, ended. In the current Amazonian period, there is no surface water. The soil containing the minerals Zhurong sampled had a hard crust that could have been formed by [rising ground water or melted ice that had since](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-credit-card-borrowing-rises-by-most-since-2005-boe.html "UK credit card borrowing rises by most since 2005 – BoE") evaporated, the Chinese scientists wrote. The Chinese [rover has been exploring the vast plain of Utopia Planitia since its landing](https://www.financedigest.com/jaguar-land-rover-opens-three-european-self-driving-tech-hubs.html "Jaguar Land Rover opens three European self-driving tech hubs") on the planet in May last year. Zhurong has [travelled about 2 kilometres from its landing site as it gathers data](https://www.financedigest.com/how-finance-brands-can-leverage-traveler-data.html "How finance brands can leverage traveler data") on the terrain. In recent years, data from an [orbiting probe operated by the European Space](https://www.financedigest.com/virgin-orbit-says-space-startup-in-talks-with-potential-investors.html "Virgin Orbit says space startup in talks with potential investors") Agency had discovered water under the ice of the planet’s south pole. Almost all of the water on Mars is locked in its polar ice caps, with very small traces in the planet’s thin atmosphere. Locating subsurface water is [key to determining](https://www.financedigest.com/determination-and-innovation-the-key-for-fast-growing-uc-firm.html "Determination and Innovation the Key for Fast Growing UC Firm") the planet’s potential for life, as well as providing a permanent resource for any human exploration. (Reporting by Ryan Woo. Editing by Gerry Doyle) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---