© Photo: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS
Mars rover Curiosity got photos of unusual purple boulders on the slopes of Mount Sharp in the crater Gale, whose chemical composition will help scientists understand how the water has disappeared from the surface of Mars, according to NASA.
"Large variation in color allude to the fact that the slopes of Mount Sharp is extremely diverse in its geology. Wind and sand brought by the wind, is typically cleaned rocks in this part of the slope of the soil and other sediment that would normally hide these colorful stones and rocks from our view "- says NASA, whose words transmit edition Space.com
Mars rover Curiosity is the fourth year running on the surface of Mars, obtaining unique information about his past and modern appearance. Now Curiosity is on the slopes of Mount Sharp, about 800 meters from the place of the last parking space in the town, which received the name "Murray Ridge."
The rocks of this region, as the scientists expect will help us to open the main mystery of the red planet - to see how it has evolved from the Earth analog in the dry and cold place in which Mars is today. As scientists hope the study of lake sediments, the last traces of water on Mars, will help you understand how and where it disappeared.
© NASA / JPL-Caltech
One of the first of these objectives can be unusual purple stones, recently opened rover during another of the stops on the way to the top of Mount Sharp. Such "multi-color" of the structure, as scientists believe, talk about the complex chemical processes that occurred in the past warm epochs in Martian life.
Geologists assume, based on the results of previous chemical analyzes of small specks of purple rocks in other parts of Mars, who studied Curiosity, that these stones are composed of hematite - rare for the red planet volcanic rocks are widespread on Earth.
© Photo: ESA / DLR / Freie Universitat Berlin (G. Neukum)
The pictures of these stones, as NASA says, you can also see the formation Murray, large deposits of clay, which, according to the plans Curiosity team will be one of the last items on the top of Mount Sharp, which will examine the fourth rover NASA.
Now the rover is on a temporary parking lot associated with the onset of the Christmas holidays in the USA. Third-January, is expected to scientists, it will continue to climb to the top of the mountain in the center of Gale Crater and purple closer to the cobbles, which will be "fired" from the ChemCam laser gun to study their chemical composition. Problems with brown Curiosity, appeared in late November, it has been partially resolved on December 16, which leaves hope that the rover will be able not only to fire, but also to "feel" the purple rocks.
Over the past year, Lauren said Edgar, a geologist from the scientific team Curiosity, the rover drove about three kilometers, drilled six stones and took two samples of Martian material. Due to the difficult terrain and the problems with the fragile aluminum wheels, Curiosity has risen by only 85 meters to the top of Mount Sharp. As scientists hope that this process will go faster in the next year, and the rover will be able to solve its main scientific and research tasks.
| Ria
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