The researchers argue that the iron deposits are very similar to the earth's remains, which contained fossils.
An international team of scientists, having carried out a comprehensive analysis of the surface of Mars, found a place of greatest interest from an astropaleontological point of view.
This place turned out to be the former lakes, in which stones rich in iron and silicon remained. Sedimentary rocks, according to the researchers, are formed from compacted mud and clay, which increases the likelihood of retaining microbes.
The specialists received this information from three sources. The first is the stratigraphic, mineralogical and geochemical data collected during previous missions. The second is an analysis of similar fossils on Earth, and the third is experimental studies of organic decay and conservation.
Terrestrial Fossils That Look Like Martian / Journal of Geophysical Research.
Scientists believe the fossils may be four billion years old. This is a very long time, but on Mars, unlike on Earth, there is no tectonic plate movement, which often destroys the remains. The information obtained will be useful for the following expeditions to the Red Planet: for example, for the rover "Mars-2020", which will have to send samples of Martian soil to Earth.
Experts from NASA and the European Space Agency have already signed an agreement on joint mission planning, during which samples of Martian soil will be delivered to our planet.
Alexey Evglevsky