NASA’s Curiosity rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars, finding rocks made of pure sulfur in the Red Planet’s Gediz Vallis channel. The finding is a first for the Martian surface and provides new insights into the planet’s geological history.
The rover discovered the yellow sulfur crystals on May 30 after driving over a rock that cracked open to reveal the elemental sulfur beneath. This is distinct from previous detections of sulfur-based minerals, which were mixed with other materials. The discovery has left scientists stunned and eager to explain the presence of pure sulfur in this region.
“This finding is like discovering an oasis in the desert,” said Ashwin Vasavada, project scientist for Curiosity at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “It shouldn’t be there, so now we have to explain it. Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting.”
The sulfur discovery is one of several recent findings made by Curiosity as it explores the Gediz Vallis channel, a region rich in sulfates that form when water evaporates. The rover has also found evidence of ancient floods and landslides that built up large mounds of debris on the channel’s floor.
By studying rocks from these debris mounds, scientists have concluded that both floodwaters and dry avalanches played a role in shaping the landscape. The discovery provides new insights into the geological history of Mars and helps researchers understand how the planet’s terrain changed billions of years ago.
Curiosity has been exploring the Gediz Vallis channel since earlier this year, and its mission is to study where and when the ancient Martian terrain could have provided nutrients needed for microbial life. With more discoveries like the pure sulfur rocks, Curiosity continues to uncover new secrets about Mars’ past.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-science-laboratory/curiosity-rover/nasas-curiosity-rover-discovers-a-surprise-in-a-martian-rock/