Why is Mars red? Have scientists finally solved this ancient mystery?

Scientists suggest that the main reason for Mars’ red colour could be the water-rich iron mineral ferrihydrite. The discovery is crucial since it may offer an intriguing hint to the planet’s wetter and perhaps habitable past A study published in the journal ‘Nature Communications’ suggests that the main reason for Mars' reddish colour could be the water-rich iron mineral ferrihydrite. The reason behind Mars’ reddish hue A study published in the journal Nature Communications suggests that the main reason for Mars’ reddish colour could be the water-rich iron mineral ferrihydrite. We’re not the first to consider ferrihydrite as the reason for why Mars is red, but it has never been proven the way we proved it now using observational data and novel laboratory methods to essentially make Martian dust in the lab.” A clue into Mars’ past The latest discovery offers an intriguing hint to Mars’ wetter and perhaps habitable past since ferrihydrite originates in the presence of cool water, as opposed to haematite, which usually forms under warmer, drier conditions.