Science and Technology News

Mars-Like Geological Sites in Tamil Nadu and Chile

October 18 , 2026 14 hrs 0 min 21 0

Indian scientists from the University of Kerala identified terrestrial sites in Tamil Nadu and Chile that resemble the geological and chemical environments of Mars.
Melanterite was identified in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, while gypsum was identified in the Tiruchirappalli Badlands, Tamil Nadu, and the Atacama Desert, Chile.
Both are hydrous sulphate minerals that help scientists understand water–rock interactions and the history of water on Mars.
Melanterite forms through the oxidation of marcasite, a sulphide mineral associated with lignite in Neyveli; researchers observed its formation within 23 days under atmospheric exposure.
Gypsum records past water activity and may preserve biosignatures, or potential evidence of past life.