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The search for answers beyond Earth continues to surprise and amaze. Recently, NASA found a real treasure on Mars, making scientists literally jump for joy. The Curiosity rover, which has been exploring the Red Planet since 2012, has revealed a discovery that could transform our understanding of natural resources on other planets.
Yellow brimstone crystals, a pure form of sulfur, were found inside a rock accidentally broken by the rover.
This unexpected find in the Gediz Vallis Channel raises intriguing questions about Martian geology and the potential for natural resources beyond Earth.
As published this Friday by the website Digital Look, the mission of NASA on Mars, led by the Curiosity rover, has just made a discovery that is being called a “treasure”.
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During its explorations, the rover accidentally shattered a seemingly ordinary rock, but what was found inside is anything but ordinary.
According to NASA, the rock weighed about 900 kilograms and, when “trampled” by Curiosity, it broke, revealing yellow brimstone crystals, a pure elemental form of sulfur.
Sulfur found on Mars
Although sulfur is not rare on Mars, this is the first time it has been found in the form of brimstone.
The location of this discovery, in the Gediz Vallis Channel, is particularly interesting. According to NASA, this area is full of rocks that, on the outside, appear ordinary, but it is now known that they may contain sulfur in its pure form.
“Finding a field of rocks made of pure sulfur is like finding an oasis in the desert,” said Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
“He shouldn't be there, so now we have to explain. Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting.”
Gediz Vallis Canal: A site of scientific interest
The Gediz Vallis Channel, seen from space years before Curiosity's launch, has always been a point of interest for NASA scientists.
The channel is believed to have been carved by flows of liquid water and debris, which left a ridge of rocks and sediment.
This new find raises questions about how these brimstone crystals formed and what their relationship is to other sulfur-based minerals in the area.
Impact of discovery
This discovery has significant implications for the exploration of Mars and other planets. The presence of sulfur in its pure form suggests that Mars may have natural resources that we do not yet fully understand.
Furthermore, understanding how these crystals formed can offer insights into the geological history of Mars and its past environmental conditions.
Planetary exploration and future studies
NASA will continue to investigate the Gediz Vallis Channel and other areas of Mars in search of more discoveries.
Each new discovery helps build a more complete picture of the Martian environment and the possibilities for life in the past or even the future.
“Every rock we break, every sample we analyze, takes us one step closer to understanding this fascinating planet,” said Vasavada.
The discovery of brimstone crystals on Mars by the Curiosity rover is an exciting milestone in space exploration.
It not only opens up new possibilities for mining and utilizing resources on other planets, but also helps us better understand the geology and history of Mars.
As we continue to explore the universe, each discovery takes us one step closer to answering the big questions about life and resources in the cosmos.
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