NASA’s Perseverance rover has been on a mission to explore Mars’ geology and search for signs of ancient habitable environments. Recently, the team made an unexpected discovery – new kinds of rocks that could be the oldest ever found on Mars. The rover is equipped with advanced instruments to collect samples from these rocks.
During its Crater Rim Campaign, Perseverance encountered a rock nicknamed “Serpentine Lake” with high concentrations of minerals like serpentine, which form in the presence of water. The team was thrilled by the rock’s unique texture, resembling “cookies & cream” dessert. However, when they attempted to collect a sample from this site, they encountered an issue similar to its first coring attempt – the rocks disintegrate into powder.
Despite this setback, the team is determined to try again and has planned to return to Serpentine Lake to acquire a core of this fascinating rock. The rover will also visit “Broom Point,” home to layered rock sequences that may hold more surprises. The success of these efforts could lead to more detailed scientific analysis and potentially unlock new insights into Mars’ ancient history.
Dr. Athanasios Klidaras, Ph.D. student at Purdue University
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/blog/cookies-cream-and-crumbling-cores