The study examined a 4.45 billion-year-old zircon grain from the Martian meteorite NWA7034, commonly referred to as "Black Beauty." Researchers found geochemical signatures indicating the presence of water-rich fluids during Mars' early history.

Dr. Aaron Cavosie from Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, a co-author of the study, explained the importance of these findings. "We used nano-scale geochemistry to detect elemental evidence of hot water on Mars 4.45 billion years ago," Dr. Cavosie said. "Hydrothermal systems were essential for the development of life on Earth, and our findings suggest Mars also had water, a key ingredient for habitable environments, during the earliest history of crust formation."

Using advanced nano-scale imaging and spectroscopy, the team identified unique elemental patterns within the zircon grain, including traces of iron, aluminium, yttrium, and sodium. The presence of these elements suggests the grain formed in the presence of water during early magmatic activity on Mars.

Dr. Cavosie noted that the study sheds light on Mars' tumultuous early history, during which its crust endured significant meteorite impacts but still harbored water. "Even during the early Pre-Noachian period, before about 4.1 billion years ago, water-rich fluids were present," he said.

In 2022, Curtin researchers revealed that the same zircon grain had been subjected to a meteorite impact, making it the first and only confirmed shocked zircon from Mars. This new study builds on that discovery by demonstrating signs of hydrothermal activity, offering critical geochemical markers of water in the planet's oldest crust.