The Ministry of Science & Technology announced on 16 October 2026 that researchers from the University of Kerala have identified Martian analogue sites in Tamil Nadu and the Atacama Desert in Chile. Using a laser Raman spectrometer supported by DST-FIST, the team found melanterite in Neyveli and gypsum in the Tiruchirappalli Badlands and Chile. These minerals reflect geological and chemical similarities to Mars, helping scientists understand past water activity and potentially habitable environments. The release does not say when these findings take effect, as they are research results published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Key points
- Melanterite identified in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu as a Martian analogue
- Gypsum identified in Tiruchirappalli Badlands and Atacama Desert (Chile)
- Research supported by DST-FIST instrumentation at the University of Kerala
- Findings published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
When it applies
The document does not state when it takes effect.
Who it affects
- planetary science researchers