Written by Melissa Rice, Professor of Planetary Sciences at Western Washington University
This week firmness completed something unusually: separating two dramatic rocks within a few days. Searching for the Vernoden region with the Rim of the Jezero Crater, the rover is studying what “megablock” can be, with a variety of ancient crustal materials with clues for the early geological history of Mars.
The target “Peachflaya”, the union on Sol 1618, was detected by groups of various mineral compositions. This may mean that rock is a braceia made of even chronic material pieces, which were broken, transport and cement together – possibly during an influence in the distant past of Mars.
Just at a distance of just meters, the target “Clourne” was removed at Sol 1623 and it tells a completely different story. The fresh surface is green, with some dark spots and white veins – evidence of significant chemical changes. Clourne’s green hue mineral corresponds to the serpentine, and reminds the friction of the firmness of the “Sypentine Lake” back on Soul 1404.
Subsequently, the firmness “Monacopzellet” will examine the megablock, which yet shows another different spectral signature. Each of these ancient parts can help the science team recreate the intricate geological processes that shaped the early Mars billions of years ago.
