NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance has embarked on a mission to explore the geologic processes occurring early in Mars’ history. The rover, which has been traveling along the Martian rim, has made several unconventional turns that have led scientists to discover new kinds of rocks.
The latest discoveries were made while investigating a rock nicknamed “Serpentine Lake,” which contains minerals such as pyroxene and serpentine. The team was excited by the rock’s texture, resembling a “cookies & cream” dessert, and its high abundance of minerals formed in the presence of water.
However, during an attempt to collect a sample from this rock, the rover encountered a problem similar to one experienced earlier in its mission. When trying to core the rock, it disintegrated into a powder instead of remaining in the tube. The team decided to try again, but was unsuccessful.
Despite the setback, scientists are eager to return to the site and collect a core sample from the fascinating “Serpentine Lake” rock. This new discovery could provide valuable insights into Mars’ ancient habitable environments. If successful, Perseverance may perform additional scans on the abrasion patch and proceed to explore an area called “Broom Point,” which is home to layered rock formations that could yield more exciting scientific discoveries.
(3-minute read)
Source: https://www.miragenews.com/cookies-cream-and-crumbling-cores-1409943