NASA’s Opportunity rover is taking a break from its pre-planned route in order to more closely investigate some very strange looking rocks. The rocks have “never before been seen” and are quite different than rocks previously found on Mars. NASA officials say that the strange rocks are located on top of a hill that overlooks Marathon Valley.
In a press statement released by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, the team notes that the “blocky rocks” they saw from the hill near the Marathon Valley overlook were so unique that they were forced to delay their other activities to take a closer look.
“We drove to the edge of a plateau to look down in the valley, and we found these big, dark-gray blocks along the ridgeline. We checked one and found its composition is different from any ever measured before on Mars. So, whoa! Let’s study these more before moving on.”
One unique aspect noted, regarding the composition of the rocks, were high levels of silicon and aluminum present. According to the researchers, this is the first rock studied on Mars that has this type of composition. The relatively high concentrations of aluminum and silicon has never before been observed by either Opportunity or its twin rover, Spirit.
Two rocks are currently being examined. The team’s target-naming theme in the area is from the Lewis and Clark expedition; therefore, one has been called “Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau,” the other named “Sergeant Charles Floyd.”
The rocks are gray; however, these rocks have a more purple and blue hue on the visible-light spectrum than other Mars rocks.
“The Charbonneau type has more purple than most Mars rocks, and the spectrum of the Floyd type has more blue. Of the two types, the bluer rocks tend to lie higher on the ridge.”
Space notes that both the Opportunity and Spirit rovers have been on a quest to find significant signs of past, or current, life on Mars. It is noted that “plenty of such evidence” has been found on the planet and the rovers are helping reshape the understanding of Mars and its early history. However, does the new strange rocks provide evidence of life?
Though the rocks are rich in aluminum and silicon, more research is needed to determine if water was present to create the mysterious new rocks. Many of noted by looking at the photo of the Marathon valley and surrounding hills that it appears a river or body of water used to flow through the area. The presence of the valley is definitely conducive to the theory of abundant water on the now dry planet’s surface.
What do you think? Will either the Mars Opportunity or Spirit rovers find sufficient evidence of previous life on Mars? Do you think there is a possibility of microscopic life still teaming somewhere on the planet’s surface?
[Image Credit: NASA]