A new map of mineral deposits on Mars could not only change our understanding of past water distribution on the Red Planet, but also help create a map for future Mars exploration, including crewed missions. It’s revealed an unexpected abundance of minerals created by the interaction of rock and water, with hundreds of thousands of formerly water-rich areas discovered in some of Mars’ most ancient regions. The map could lead to a more detailed investigation of Martian geology, revealing what happened when Mars changed from a planet like Earth to the dry and arid world we see today
