The rocks at Hogwallow Flats appear to be especially fine-grained, which is amazing to objective scientists as fine-grained rocks may have the finest chance of maintaining evidence of life. Some small organic molecules can be produced without the presence of life (and have been spotted on Mars and in meteorites in the past), so the existence of organic molecules in a rock does not automatically suggest that life was present. Complex and big molecules break down into smaller sized ones over time due to radiation from the sun and reactions with the rocks and environment. To have a chance of detecting evidence of life in the samples that Perseverance will ultimately send out back, we require to sample rocks that have the greatest probability of maintaining intricate natural molecules– fine-grained rocks.
Mars Perseverance Sol 472– Left Mastcam-Z Camera: NASAs Perseverance rover acquired this image utilizing its Left Mastcam-Z video camera. Mastcam-Z is a pair of cams located high on the rovers mast.
Fine-Grained Rocks at Hogwallow Flats
NASAs Mars Perseverance Rovers expedition of the Hawksbill Gap location of the Jezero Delta continues! Over the last couple of weeks, the rover has abraded at two various locations. Initially, the rover abraded in the Devils Tanyard region. Regrettably, the force of the abrasion broke and moved the crumbly rocks at Devils Tanyard. The team was able to collect important clinical data of the abrasion spot and surrounding area using the SuperCam and Mastcam-Z instruments.
Next, the rover made its method up the delta to abrade at Hogwallow Flats, an area the science team nicknamed “the Bacon Strip” due to its light-colored striped rocks, which appear like a strip of bacon in images taken by the HiRISE orbiter. The rocks at Hogwallow Flats appear to be particularly fine-grained, which is exciting to mission scientists as fine-grained rocks may have the very best opportunity of maintaining proof of life. In order to comprehend why, we require to talk a little about natural molecules.
Some little natural molecules can be produced without the presence of life (and have actually been detected on Mars and in meteorites in the past), so the existence of organic molecules in a rock does not instantly imply that life was present. Complex and big molecules break down into smaller sized ones over time due to radiation from the sun and reactions with the rocks and atmosphere.
To have a possibility of finding evidence of life in the samples that Perseverance will ultimately return, we need to sample rocks that have the greatest probability of protecting complicated natural particles– fine-grained rocks. This is because fine-grained rocks are more likely to consist of large quantities of clay minerals than rocks with lots of sand, pebbles, and gravel. Clay minerals have charged surface areas that can bind to natural molecules, kind of like how magnets with opposite charges stick. By being attached to clay minerals in this method, complex natural particles can be safeguarded from damage in the extreme Martian environment, and preserved over a lot longer time period then they would be otherwise.
Prior to deciding where it will sample next, the team strategies for Perseverance to check out a number of more websites on the delta front. We will continue to keep an eye out for more fine-grained rocks as we advance from Hogwallow!
Composed by Lydia Kivrak, Student Collaborator at the University of Florida.