Mars had an oxygen-rich atmosphere four billion years ago

[n2doc]

Mars had an oxygen-rich atmosphere more than a billion years before the Earth, say scientists. An examination of meteorites and rocks on the planet suggests that oxygen was affecting the Martian surface four billion years ago.

On Earth, oxygen did not build up to appreciable quantities in the atmosphere for at least another 1.5bn years.

The researchers compared Martian meteorites that have crashed onto the Earth with data from rocks examined by Nasa's Spirit Mars rover. Differences in their composition can best be explained by an abundance of oxygen early in Martian history.

Spirit was exploring an ancient part of Mars containing rocks more than 3.7bn years old. The rocks bear the hallmarks of early exposure to oxygen before being "recycled" – drawn into shallow regions of the planet's interior and then spewed out in volcanic eruptions.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/jun/19/mars-oxygen-rich-atmosphere

[kickysnana]

1. Yeah, we just cannot stop destroying planets can we?

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Huh?

What has your remark to do with the OP?

[Skraxx]

3. I For One Support The Destruction Of Mars!

Screw Mars!

[WovenGems]

4. An Idea

Was the Cambrian Explosion brought on by a meteorite that had been blasted out of Mars then wandered till getting here. While we have no clue why the planet went from single cell to multi celled life this remains a possibility. Then again, all asteroids in the belt came from broken worlds long gone, maybe some pieces came Earth like planets.