Sols 4366–4367: One of Those Days on Mars (Sulfate-Bearing Unit to the West of Upper Gediz Vallis)
November 18, 2024
NASA’s Curiosity rover has been exploring the Gale crater on Mars since 2012. The rover has been investigating the geology of the crater, including the search for evidence of past life.
On Sols 4366–4367, Curiosity drove to a new location west of Upper Gediz Vallis. The rover’s Mastcam instrument took a mosaic of images of the surrounding area, which revealed a sulfate-bearing unit.
Sulfates are minerals that contain sulfur and oxygen. They are often found in association with water, which suggests that the sulfate-bearing unit may have been formed in a wet environment.
Curiosity will continue to investigate the sulfate-bearing unit in the coming weeks. The rover will use its instruments to determine the composition of the unit and to search for evidence of past life.
Additional Information
- The sulfate-bearing unit is located on the Vera Rubin Ridge, which is a geological feature that formed during the early history of Gale crater.
- The unit is about 100 meters thick and is composed of a variety of sulfate minerals, including gypsum and anhydrite.
- The presence of sulfates in the unit suggests that the Vera Rubin Ridge was once exposed to a wet environment.
- Curiosity’s investigation of the sulfate-bearing unit could provide new insights into the early history of Gale crater and the search for evidence of past life on Mars.
Sols 4366–4367: One of Those Days on Mars (Sulfate-Bearing Unit to the West of Upper Gediz Vallis)
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NASA a new article on 2024-11-18 22:21 titled “Sols 4366–4367: One of Those Days on Mars (Sulfate-Bearing Unit to the West of Upper Gediz Vallis)”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
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