Discovery of 30 'Water Oases' on the Surface of Mars

Researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Space Research Institute have discovered 30 water oases in various regions of Mars, following the creation of a detailed map of water-rich rock deposits on the planet’s surface. Dmitry Golovin, a researcher at the institute, stated that Russian planetary scientists prepared a detailed map of these deposits by integrating data collected by the FREND neutron spectrometer aboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter over the past eight years, enabling the discovery of 30 “water oases” in different areas of Mars. He added that information gathered during eight years of observation significantly improved data accuracy and revealed new water accumulations, while also identifying distinctive characteristics in the structure of previously discovered bodies. For example, the presence of water in Valles Marineris was confirmed, new hydrated mineral deposits were identified there, and the estimated maximum water content in those deposits was raised from 20% to 30%. Preliminary results from FREND observations, published in 2020, had indicated the existence of several “water oases” on Mars—extensive rock deposits containing large amounts of water. This discovery prompted scientists to begin systematic studies of these deposits on the planet’s surface. Among the sites that attracted scientists’ attention were Gale Crater, where the Curiosity rover landed in 2012, and the cliffs of Apollinaris Mons, where the FREND spectrometer recorded high water levels, approaching 100% in some areas. However, planetary scientists rule out the presence of pure water ice in these regions, given the prevailing physical conditions, which, according to their estimates, do not allow it to persist. Conversely, they do not exclude the possibility of water ice reserves at great depths, making this part of Mars a focus for further studies.