Mars Shocking Discovery: Mysterious Martian Mineral Formation Possibly Caused By Ancient Activity [PHOTO]

Mars may have had explosive volcanic activity during its early days that led to the formation of a mineral deposit on the Red Planet, a new study suggests.

While scientists have found evidence of recent volcanic activity on Mars, with Olympus Mons believed to be an active one with the potential to erupt, it remains unclear whether or not ancient Mars also experienced explosive eruptions. In a new paper published in the journal Geology, however, researchers revealed that a mineral deposit captured in images by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter could be definite proof of the Red Planet's active volcanic eruptions billions of years ago.

One image studied by the researchers showed a Mars region called Nili Fossae, a fractured-looking area rich in the mineral olivine. They pointed to the presence of the mineral on the surface as a possible sign of ancient volcanic activity as olivine is usually found in the cores of planets.

The study's authors also found serpentine, carbonate and other rock types that could be evidence that liquid water used to flow in the region.

Lead author Christopher Kremer, a graduate student in planetary science at Brown University, explained how determining Mars' geologic activity could help us gain a better understanding of how much water had been on its surface and how thick its atmosphere used to be during the planet's early days.

"This is one of the most tangible pieces of evidence yet for the idea that explosive volcanism was more common on early Mars," Kremer said in a statement. "Understanding how important explosive volcanism was on early Mars is ultimately important [to] understand the water budget in Martian magma, groundwater abundance and the thickness of the atmosphere."

Kremer and his team determined the thickness of the olivine-rich formations across the Nili Fossae region and where the mineral was concentrated. They concluded that an explosive eruption rather than an effusive one had spewed the olivine around the area as the mineral could be found even on top of steep crater walls.

However, the researchers said that this is only a suggestion and future data from Mars could reveal a much different scenario.

NASA's Mars 2020 rover is set to launch next year and arrive at the Jezero Crater, which is relatively near the Nili Fossae region. Kremer and his colleagues are hoping that the lander will study the olivine mineral and obtain more data that could help either prove or disprove their explosive eruption suggestion.

"What's exciting is that we'll see very soon if I'm right or wrong," Kremer said. "So that's a little nerve-wracking, but if it's not an ash fall, it's probably going to be something much stranger. That's just as fun, if not more so."