A new, multi-scale approach to studying pyrite oxidation deep underground suggests that fracturing and erosion at the surface set the pace of oxidation, which, when it occurs slowly, avoids ...

Mars has fascinated astronomers for centuries, earning the nickname Red Planet due to its striking rust-colored appearance. For decades, scientists attributed this distinctive hue to iron ...

Fractures and erosion at the Earth's surface control the rate of pyrite oxidation deep underground, leaving behind iron oxide "fossils" that retain pyrite's shape. view more . Credit: Xin Gu, Penn ...

These oxidation reactions, akin to the rusting of iron, act as natural time stamps that record when rocks were exposed to water and oxygen—conditions that only exist near the planet’s surface.