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Curiosity prepares to leave sulfur stones behind for boxwork exploration
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 19, 2024
NASA’s Curiosity rover is set to embark on a new chapter of its mission, heading toward a distinctive geological formation called the boxwork, after concluding its investigations at Gediz Vallis channel. This channel has been a site of intrigue for scientists, raising questions about its formation during Mars’ shift to a drier climate. Adding to the curiosity is the unexpected discovery of a field of white sulfur stones found over the summer.
Before departing, Curiosity captured a comprehensive 360-degree panorama of the channel and its unique features, including the field of sulfur stones. This detailed imaging took place just before the rover moved to the channel’s western boundary at the close of September.
Curiosity’s mission focuses on uncovering evidence of conditions that might have supported microbial life during Mars’ wetter periods billions of years ago. Gediz Vallis channel, located in the lower regions of Mount Sharp, could provide new insights into Mars’ climatic transition as water sources dwindled. While older mountain layers reveal a history of arid conditions, the channel indicates episodes of water flow during periods of climatic change.
Researchers are examining features within Gediz Vallis, such as a debris mound known as “Pinnacle Ridge,” visible in the recent panorama. The varied landscape suggests that it was shaped by a combination of river flows, wet debris movement, and dry avalanches. Scientists aim to establish a timeline using data collected by Curiosity.
A key focus has been the mysterious sulfur stones scattered across the region. Earlier imagery from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) depicted the area as a seemingly ordinary patch of light-colored terrain, unable to detect the sulfur stones due to their small size. However, upon arrival, Curiosity revealed their presence and even crushed one, uncovering yellow crystals within.
Tests conducted with Curiosity’s instruments confirmed the stone’s composition as pure sulfur, an unprecedented find on Mars. On Earth, sulfur is linked to geothermal activity such as volcanoes and hot springs, but Mount Sharp shows no signs of such geological processes.
“We looked at the sulfur field from every angle – from the top and the side – and looked for anything mixed with the sulfur that might give us clues as to how it formed. We’ve gathered a ton of data, and now we have a fun puzzle to solve,” said Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity’s project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Currently, the rover is positioned along the western edge of the channel, capturing additional panoramic images before setting off for the boxwork. This formation, when observed by MRO, appears like spiderwebs crisscrossing the Martian landscape. Scientists believe the boxwork developed as minerals carried by the last traces of water from Mount Sharp settled in rock fractures and solidified. Over time, as the rock eroded, the mineral-filled fractures were exposed, creating the distinctive patterns.
On Earth, boxwork is typically found on cliffsides and in caves, but the formations on Mount Sharp are unique due to their scale, stretching over an area between 6 to 12 miles (10 to 20 kilometers) and forming as Mars’ water resources waned.
“These ridges will include minerals that crystallized underground, where it would have been warmer, with salty liquid water flowing through,” noted Kirsten Siebach, a scientist at Rice University. “Early Earth microbes could have survived in a similar environment. That makes this an exciting place to explore.”
Related Links
Curiosity Mars Science Lad
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more
