New Study Suggests Mars' Red Hue Comes From Ferrihydrite, Not Hematite

Researchers propose that the presence of ferrihydrite, formed in early wet and cold conditions, explains the planet's distinctive color.

An international team of scientists has identified ferrihydrite, a water-containing iron oxide, as the likely source of Mars' red coloration, challenging the long-held belief that hematite is responsible.
Ferrihydrite is thought to have formed in the planet's early history under wet and cold conditions, when liquid water was abundant on Mars' surface.
The study used laboratory simulations of Mars dust and data from various Mars rovers and orbiters to analyze mineral compositions and spectral reflections.
The findings suggest that oxygen and water were present on Mars in its early history, creating conditions vastly different from the dry, cold environment of today.
Researchers await the return of Mars samples collected by NASA's Perseverance rover in the 2030s to confirm these findings.