News Release

September 2, 2021 – Scientists have been studying the Martian surface with spacecraft since 1965. The September 1^st Soils Matter blog explores the different soil-related findings we have learned from Mars explorations.

Blogger Elizabeth Rampe explains, “Active wind-blown sediments and ancient sedimentary rocks on Mars have very low abundances of organic molecules. So, when planetary scientists talk about ‘soils’ on Mars, we don’t mean soil like you could see here on Earth. We ignore the need for this organic component and are typically referring to modern-day, unconsolidated sediments or ‘regolith.’”

“We have yet to unequivocally identify an ancient soil profile on Mars complete with distinct soil horizons,” says Rampe “Measurements by orbiters, landers, and rovers show a variety of minerals that formed from interactions between rock and liquid water. These different ‘secondary minerals’ tell us that the pH, temperature, and salinity of liquid water on ancient Mars changed over space and time.”

Learn more about soils on Mars by reading the entire blog: https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2021/09/01/what-has-been-discovered-about-the-mars-surface-how-does-that-relate-to-human-missions/

Follow SSSA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SSSA.soils, Twitter at SSSA_Soils. SSSA has soils information on www.soils.org/discover-soils, for teachers at www.soils4teachers.org, and for students through 12^th grade, www.soils4kids.org.

The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global soils. Based in Madison, WI, and founded in 1936, SSSA is the professional home for 6,000+ members and 1,000+ certified professionals dedicated to advancing the field of soil science. The Society provides information about soils in relation to crop production, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management, recycling, and wise land use.