NASA’s Curiosity rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars – pure elemental sulfur, also known as brimstone. The find came after the rover accidentally cracked open a rock in May last year, revealing yellow crystals of sulfur.
The discovery is significant because it marks the first time sulfur has been found on Mars in its pure form. However, researchers are not surprised to have found sulfates, which are salts that form when sulfur mixes with other minerals in water. These sulfate minerals can provide valuable insights into Mars’ water history and geological evolution.
Pure sulfur, on the other hand, forms under very specific conditions that are unlikely to occur in the region where Curiosity discovered it. The finding suggests that there may be more to the Martian geology than scientists currently understand.
Sulfur is an essential element for life, and its discovery could have implications for future missions to search for signs of life on Mars. While this discovery doesn’t reveal anything new about sulfates, it does highlight the importance of continued exploration of the Red Planet.
Future research will focus on understanding how sulfur ended up in the Gediz Vallis Channel, a region rich in Martian history and geological significance. The Curiosity rover will continue to collect data from the area, potentially uncovering more surprises along the way.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/curiosity-cracked-open-a-rock-on-mars-and-discovered-a-big-surprise