Six new papers outlining science results from NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars have been published in the journal Science Express. Talks on the results were also given during the 2013 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), held in San Francisco from December 9-13.

The papers provide valuable information for astrobiologists who are attempting to determine life’s potential on ancient Mars. Among the reported findings is the first ever dating of a rock on Mars based on mineral composition. The rock, dubbed “Cumberland,” was the second rock that Curiosity drilled into for sampling, and results indicates it is 3.86 billion to 4.56 billion years old.

Ten months ago, scientists reported that the first rock drilled by Curiosity returned evidence that satisfied the mission’s goal of finding ancient environments suitable for microbial life. The new studies further that finding and show that the site dubbed “Yellowknife Bay” was once a clay-rich lake bed. Evidence suggests the lake contained some key chemical ingredients for life, water that wasn’t too salty or acidic, and a source of energy for any microbial cells that might have called the lake home.

Finally, the conditions at Yellowknife bay may have been habitable for millions of years – and possibly even tens of millions of years. Even after water at the surface dried up, environments in the subsurface likely remained wet. The length of time in which habitable environments were present increases the likelihood that life may have gained a foothold on ancient Mars.