When NASAs Curiosity rover got here at the “sulfate-bearing unit” last fall, scientists believed they d seen the last proof that lakes once covered this region of Mars. Over time, the sediment formed into rocks with rippled textures that are the clearest evidence of waves and water that NASAs Curiosity Mars rover has ever discovered. Having climbed nearly a half-mile above the mountains base, Curiosity has actually discovered these rippled rock textures protected in whats nicknamed the “Marker Band”– a thin layer of dark rock that stands out from the rest of Mount Sharp. Its not the first time Mars has been reluctant to share a sample: Lower down the mountain, on “Vera Rubin Ridge,” Curiosity had to attempt three times before discovering a spot soft sufficient to drill.
The Curiosity objective is led by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California.
Curiositys 360-Degree View of Marker Band Valley: NASAs Curiosity Mars rover used its Mastcam to record this 360-degree panorama of “Marker Band Valley” on Dec. 16, 2022, the 3,684 th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Among other discoveries made by the rover, rippled rock textures suggest lakes existed in a region of ancient Mars that researchers anticipated to be drier.
When NASAs Curiosity rover came to the “sulfate-bearing unit” last fall, scientists believed they d seen the last evidence that lakes as soon as covered this region of Mars. Thats due to the fact that the rock layers here formed in drier settings than regions checked out earlier in the objective. When water was drying to a drip, the areas sulfates– salted minerals– are believed to have actually been left behind.
Curiositys group was amazed to find the objectives clearest evidence yet of ancient water ripples that formed within lakes. Billions of years back, waves on the surface area of a shallow lake stimulated sediment at the lake bottom, gradually producing rippled textures left in rock.
Rippled Rock Textures: Billions of years ago, waves on the surface area of a shallow lake stirred up sediment at the lake bottom. In time, the sediment formed into rocks with rippled textures that are the clearest evidence of waves and water that NASAs Curiosity Mars rover has actually ever discovered. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
” This is the finest evidence of water and waves that weve seen in the whole objective,” said Ashwin Vasavada, Curiositys project scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “We climbed through countless feet of lake deposits and never saw evidence like this– and now we found it in a location we anticipated to be dry.”
Layers of History
Because 2014, the rover has been rising the foothills of Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-tall (5-kilometer-tall) mountain that was as soon as laced with lakes and streams that would have provided a rich environment for microbial life, if any ever formed on the Red Planet.
Mount Sharp is comprised of layers, with the oldest at the bottom of the mountain and the youngest at the top. As the rover ascends, it advances along a Martian timeline, permitting researchers to study how Mars progressed from a world that was more Earth-like in its ancient past, with a warmer climate and abundant water, to the freezing desert it is today.
Interest Rover Finds New Clues to Mars Watery Past: NASAs Curiosity rover just recently discovered unexpected hints to Mars watery past, consisting of while exploring an area called the “Marker Band.” Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/ University of Arizona
Having actually climbed almost a half-mile above the mountains base, Curiosity has actually found these rippled rock textures protected in whats nicknamed the “Marker Band”– a thin layer of dark rock that stands out from the rest of Mount Sharp. This rock layer is so difficult that Curiosity hasnt been able to drill a sample from it in spite of a number of attempts. Its not the very first time Mars has been reluctant to share a sample: Lower down the mountain, on “Vera Rubin Ridge,” Curiosity needed to attempt three times before discovering an area soft enough to drill.
Scientists will be searching for softer rock in the week ahead. Even if they never get a sample from this uncommon strip of rock, there are other sites theyre eager to explore.
Martian Clues
Far ahead of the Marker Band, researchers can see another hint to the history of Mars ancient water in a valley called Gediz Vallis. Wind carved the valley, however a channel going through it that begins greater up on Mount Sharp is believed to have been eroded by a little river. Scientists suspect wet landslides likewise happened here, sending out car-size stones and debris to the bottom of the valley.
Interest Views Gediz Vallis: NASAs Curiosity Mars rover used its Mastcam to record this mosaic of Gediz Vallis on Nov. 7, 2022, the 3,646 th Martian day, or sol, of the objective. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Its clearly one of the youngest features on Mount Sharp because the resulting particles pile sits on top of all the other layers in the valley. Curiosity got a glimpse of this debris at Gediz Vallis Ridge two times in 2015 but could only survey it from a distance. The rover group hopes to have another opportunity to view it later on this year.
One more clue within the Marker Band that has actually interested the team is an unusual rock texture most likely triggered by some sort of regular cycle in the weather condition or environment, such as dust storms. Not far from the rippled textures are rocks made of layers that are regular in their spacing and density.
ChemCam Mosaic of Gediz Vallis Ridge: NASAs Curiosity Mars rover used its ChemCam instrument to view boulders on Gediz Vallis Ridge Nov. 15 to 17, 2022, the 3,653 rd to 3,655 th Martian days, or sols, of the objective. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/ CNES/CNRS/IRAP/ IAS/LPG.
” The wave ripples, debris flows, and rhythmic layers all tell us that the story of wet-to-dry on Mars wasnt basic,” Vasavada stated. “Mars ancient environment had a fantastic complexity to it, just like Earths.”.
More About the Mission.
The Curiosity objective is led by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is handled by Caltech in Pasadena, California. JPL leads the mission on behalf of NASAs Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Mastcam was constructed and is operated by Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego.