Rare metal rock discovery on Mars by NASA's rover, a meteorite
NASA's rover just discovered a rare metal rock on Mars, further investigation is on using the rover's ChemCam laser. The red planet seems to have many discoveries yet to be made.
The ChemCam laser had given scientists information about the rocks chemical composition, the rock is said to be in the size of a golf ball and it does not appear to be like any of the other rocks. The different chemical composition present in the rock makes it rare and has never been seen so closely.
As reported on Mashable, scientists controlling the rover had suspected that the odd rock consists of iron meteorite that found its way to the Martian surface. The laser instrument on the rover has the potential to decode the chemicals by gathering data, and it will also receive the different types of light the rocks will emit when it is hit with the laser beam.
Researchers from Arizona State University are studying the photos taken by the rover, it is stated that meteorites crashing onto the Martian surface is pretty rare. According to Inverse the rock has a smooth and fine surface and it also contains a few grooves that pierce deep inside. There is no explanation about these patterns formed on the discovered rock.
Mars has a thin atmosphere when compared with Earth, and the planet also retains its structure. There could be possibilities that the rock would have fallen from space, scientists are at their peak to study the Martian meteorites and learn more about them. The discovery is very useful to scientists and will help them to carry on their investigation further.
Reports say that there is an iron-phosphide mineral that is relatively common in these kinds of meteorites, the rock has also been named "Egg Rock" and is not the first meteorite that has been spotted on Mars by NASAs rover.
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