# Mars' Long-Lost Atmosphere: Could It Be Hidden in Its Clays? 🪐

**URL:** <https://onehack.st/t/mars-long-lost-atmosphere-could-it-be-hidden-in-its-clays/292477>\
**Category:** News & Articles\
**Tags:** tools, technology\
**Created:** [September 30, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/mars-long-lost-atmosphere-could-it-be-hidden-in-its-clays/292477 "2024-09-30T19:44:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TheJoker](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/thejoker/32/22660_2.png) [@TheJoker](https://onehack.st/u/TheJoker)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/mars-long-lost-atmosphere-could-it-be-hidden-in-its-clays/292477/1 "2024-09-30T19:44:06Z")

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**Summary:**

1. **Atmospheric Discovery**  
New research from MIT geologists suggests that Mars’ missing atmosphere might be trapped in its clay-rich surface, potentially hiding in plain sight.

2. **Chemical Reactions**  
Ancient water on Mars may have interacted with rocks, converting CO2 into methane and sequestering carbon in clay minerals for billions of years.

3. **Clay Minerals’ Role**  
The study highlights smectite clay, which has a high capacity for trapping carbon. These minerals are abundant on Mars and can store carbon molecules for extended periods.

4. **Significant Findings**  
The researchers estimate that Mars’ surface could contain up to 1.7 bar of CO2, equating to approximately 80% of its early atmospheric volume, trapped as methane within clay deposits.

5. **Implications for Future Missions**  
Recovering and converting this sequestered carbon could provide propellant for future missions between Earth and Mars, opening new avenues for exploration and understanding of the planet’s history.

**Read more at:** [Newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/mars-atmosphere-hiding-plain-site-1959289)