Mineral inventories on Mars appear far more limited than those on Earth, a finding highlighted by American geologists affiliated with the Carnegie Institution in Washington. Across many decades of analysis, Mars has yielded about 161 distinct minerals, whereas Earth hosts roughly 6,000 mineral species. This stark contrast was documented in a study published in Geophysical Research: Planets. The researchers explain that the diversity gap may reflect fundamental differences in planetary geologic processes and evolutionary history.
A key observation from the study is that Earth showcases a broader suite of mineral-forming mechanisms than Mars. Scientists count 57 primary and secondary mineral-forming pathways on Earth, compared with about 20 identified on Mars. This disparity in mechanisms helps explain why Earth’s mineral landscape shows far greater complexity and variety today.
Despite the divergent diversification paths, the two planets share a common origin story for minerals. Early on, when molten rock cooled to form solid crusts, the initial ore and mineral species likely crystallized directly from cooling magma on both worlds. In those primordial moments, geologic processes produced similar mineral precursors across the young solar system.
Over vast geologic timescales, Earth experienced plate tectonics and the emergence of life, processes that profoundly expanded its mineral inventory. Tectonic activity drove continual recycling of crust and mantle materials, while biological activity introduced new redox conditions and mineral pathways. These factors contributed to a continuous but uneven enrichment of Earth’s mineral catalog.
In contrast, Mars did not undergo the same level of tectonic recycling or biotic influence. The planet’s crust remained relatively stable for long periods, and the lack of sustained plate tectonics curtailed the diversification of minerals. As a result, Mars preserves a more conservative mineral record, with fewer pathways for new minerals to form and persist over geological time.
Geologists thus infer that the total mineral endowment on Mars is likely still substantially lower than Earth’s. The constrained history of Mars’ interior dynamics and surface processes supports a scenario in which mineral variety never reached the Earth-like scale observed today.
There have been notable international efforts connected to Mars exploration as well. For instance, Russia announced plans related to a mission focused on delivering soil samples to Earth, drawn from Phobos, Mars’ moon, signaling ongoing interest in cross-planetary material analysis and the potential to compare Martian soils with terrestrial minerals more directly. These activities underscore a continuing curiosity about how Mars’ mineral system compares with Earth’s and how future missions might refine our understanding of planetary geochemistry.