DECEMBER 12, 2011
An Unusual Vein of Deposited Rock on Mars
EXPLANATION
What could create this unusual vein of rock on Mars? A leading hypothesis is that this thin rock layer dubbed "Homestake" was deposited by a running liquid—like most mineral veins are here on Earth. And the running liquid of choice is water. Therefore, this mineral streak—rich in calcium and sulfur—is the latest in the growing body of evidence that part of Mars had a watery past. This, in turn, increases the speculation that Mars was once hospitable to life. Pictured above is a vista taken near the western rim of Endeavour Crater by the Opportunity rover currently exploring Mars. The inset image shows a close up of the recently discovered mineral vein.
Image Credit
Mars Exploration Rover Mission, NASA, JPL, Cornell; Image Processing: Kenneth Kremer, Marco Di Lorenzo
