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Scientists are intrigued by the discovery of white rocks on Mars. These white rocks could reveal past habitability as well as the origin of Mars.
On distant and arid Mars, the Perseverance rover, a NASA robotic probe, found a very curious phenomenon: thousands of white rocks scattered across the Jezero crater. The whitish hue of these rocks, in contrast to the characteristic reddish tone of the Martian surface, has raised intriguing questions among researchers about the origin of these formations on the red planet.
Understand how white rocks on Mars can be so important
Purdue University planetary scientist and Mars 2020 science team member Candice Bedford expressed bewilderment at the discovery during the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. The white rocks on Mars (with several different textures and compositions) were called “floating” by scientists because they were displaced from their original locations.
Initial analyzes indicate dehydration and a depletion of minerals, including iron, magnesium, calcium and sodium. Researchers believe that understanding the formation of these rocks could shed light on the geological history of Mars, particularly in relation to past water activity in Jezero Crater.
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Despite the abundance of floats, the lack of outcrops (matrix rocks with similar properties) adds to the mystery of Mars' origin. Bedford and his team hypothesize that the white rocks on Mars underwent heating and metamorphosis, likely due to volcanic activity or asteroid impacts elsewhere on Mars, before being deposited in the crater.
Scientists suspect that this process occurred recently in the crater's history. The full scientific potential of these samples can only be realized when they are brought back to Earth. MIT planetary scientist, Benjamin Weiss, highlights the revolutionary importance of returning Martian samples, enabling accurate dating and deepening human understanding of the origin of Mars.
White rocks on Mars could reveal the planet's early climate
However, questions remain regarding the Return of Samples from Mars (MSR) led by NASA. Concerns about excessive costs have led to a review of the program's architecture, with a revised plan and budget coming soon. The allocation of funds for MSR in NASA's fiscal year 2025 budget remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the review.
Although Perseverance has already completed its main mission, it continues to explore the planet's surface, approaching the edge of the Jezero crater. The rover's long-distance camera recorded more sightings of white rocks on Mars in this area, further expanding scientific curiosity.
In addition to the mysterious rocks, scientists are eager to explore the unique geology of the crater rim, which may hold clues about the unique geology of the crater rim, which may hold clues about Mars' early climate and potential biosignatures.
Lisa Mayhew, a researcher at the University of Colorado, Boulder, highlights the importance of sampling rocks from adjacent terrains like Nili Planum, which could provide important information about the origin of Mars.
Check out some interesting facts about Mars
The planet is often nicknamed the Red Planet, due to its characteristic reddish hue that makes it unmistakable in the night sky.
The Martian red hue is the result of a union of complex factors that act together. And this interaction takes place between the composition of the planet's surface, its atmosphere and geological phenomena.
The surface of Mars displays a variety of hues. It is usually associated with shades of red or orange. However, the reddish color of the planet's surface is the result of the presence of rocks composed of minerals rich in iron.
Over billions of years, these rocks have undergone an oxidation process. This process is similar to the oxidation that happens on Earth when iron comes into contact with oxygen and forms rust.
