One Martian volcano may have erupted for at least 2 billion years, according to new research.
Christian Science Monitor recently reported on research that studied Martian meteorites. These meteorites developed when igneous rock broke off Mars when something slammed into its surface about 1.1 million years ago.
The most recent study has long suggested that big volcanic centers on Mars, such as Tharsis and Elysium, could have formed as long ago as 3 or 4 billion years ago, says Harry “Hap” McSween, a geoscientist at UT who was not involved in the research.
“It’s nice to have confirmation,” he tells the Monitor.