Researchers have discovered potentially the oldest evidence of hot water activity on Mars through the analysis of a 4.45 billion-year-old zircon grain from the Martian meteorite known as Black Beauty.

The team analyzed meteorites from a large space rock designated as NWA7034 or “Black Beauty.” While all Martian meteorites have clues about the planet’s geologic history, most of them are igneous rocks like those found on Earth and others are mantle rocks.

A rock that formed around 4.5 billion years ago on Mars before being blasted into space by a meteor strike and making its way to Earth contains telltale evidence that it was formed in the presence of

Scientists analyzing the 'Black Beauty' meteorite have discovered a zircon grain that hints at hydrothermal systems on early Mars.