The Curiosity rover discovered opal deposits in Gale Crater on Mars. The discovery of the material used to make jewelry on Earth is of great importance in geology because it consists of hydrated silica; A vital resource for future missions in the field.
The remote finding, made remotely by a research team analyzing data from the rover and neutron spectrometer (DAN), observed so-called light-tone metamorphic halos embedded in rock fractures in one sedimentary unit and another group in Gale (Stimson) crater. prominent geological (Bradbury).
Published in December (19) Journal of Geophysical Research: Planetsthe study was based on old photographs taken shortly after Curiosity’s launch to Mars (2012), when the rover accidentally passes over one of these halos.
Re-evaluating Curiosity’s visuals
Examining the old Curiosity images, the researchers noticed vast broken halos extending all the way to the planet’s horizon. Applying new research methods to data from the instruments at the time, the team discovered that these rock formations, including those discovered later, share a common feature: lots of silica and water.
According to the research, this light-colored opaline silica represents the “exposed roots” of wet, protective conditions in Mars’ recent geological history. Data collected by Curiosity’s instruments show that the event was brief, followed shortly by contrasting cold and dry conditions.
Consequences of exploration for future missions
Because it is located in a subterranean layer of the planet, this entire water-rich network has more recently been shielded from cosmic radiation in a potentially habitable environment. These conditions may have remained potentially habitable even after the surface had dried. and it has become hospitable to any way of life.
An important implication of this discovery is that opal could provide a useful source of water for future human explorers of the planet. Because water is not “trapped” in the crystal structure, it can be released from the material if crushed and heated. According to the team, one of these 1-meter-long halos can drop about 5.7 liters of water into the top 30 centimeters of the surface.
ARTICLE – Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets – DOI: 10.1029/2020JE006600.
Source: Tec Mundo
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