On Mars, glaciers are mostly made of pure water ice.
Scientists say the Red Planet's glaciers are purer than previously thought.
Mars' glaciers "are purer than previously thought" and could be made up primarily of water ice, "which could benefit future colonists," Mashable reported Thursday, July 31, relaying the results of a study published in the journal Icarus .
The study was led by Yuval Steinberg of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The researchers studied five glacial sites on the Red Planet.
Once thought to be mostly rock with some ice, scientists have revealed that these glaciers, all over the planet, are made up of more than 80 percent water ice, covered only by a thin layer of dust and rock, explains Mashable .
Conclusions that the site describes as "exciting" . Firstly because they "shed new light on the climatic history" of this planet, the fourth in the Solar System in ascending order of distance from the Sun.
And this discovery “could revolutionize future missions” to Mars, helping to create essential resources for future colonists. This is a “major challenge” for future human exploration, insists Mashable . “The water from these glaciers could be a vital resource for astronauts, supplying multiple needs, from drinking water to fuel production.”
