Discoveries do not stop and Mars has been one of the most explored planets by humans. It was recently announced that a group of researchers had discovered some light-colored rocks surrounding fractures that form part of the Red Planet’s landscape. The discovery lies in the type of rock in question, since the material it is made of is opal.
he opal It is a gemstone related to quartz, with a contrasting appearance formed by the reaction of silica (cristolite and tridymite) and water.
Water is essential for the formation of opals, as it filters between the rocks, generating structures with white hues that, as the light passes through, can be seen as flashes of multiple colours.
On Earth, the abundance of gemstones such as agate is not surprising, given the large amount of water that makes up the planet, however, the significance of this new discovery by a team of researchers from Arizona State University lies in the truth. We now also know that this geological formation exists on Mars.
The group of researchers used new methods to analyze the data collected by Curiosity rover NASA, which has been active on Mars since 2012. Independently, scientists reviewed and verified that halos of the rock fractures contained opal.
he condition Published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets; Where, after analyzing the data using spectrophotometric technology, the researchers came to the conclusion that these “halos” were the result of opals being spread more widely than previously thought.
“Our new analysis of the archival data showed a striking similarity among all the fracture halos we observed later in the mission,” said Travis Gabriel, former ASU postdoctoral fellow and now an Arizona State Government research physicist. The rift nets were so wide and probably filled with opals it was amazing.”
Suspicion about the presence of these materials on the Red Planet is not new. in 2008, Orbiter for Mars Reconnaissance Notice the areas of white hues that were quickly associated with geological formations where water had a strong involvement.
The confirmation of geological opal formations on Mars undoubtedly confirms the theory that the Red Planet was once full of water.
As a result of recent discoveries, scientists are considering new hypotheses, considering that water on Mars could remain longer than previously thought, not only on the surface as in the case of Earth, but in the interior of the earth.
Scientists say they will continue to investigate the role of water in rock formation and change as the Curiosity rover heads toward Gale Crater’s central hill.
For more information consult: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
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