[Epoch Times August 05, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Di Rui compiled a report) NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity recently discovered a natural stone while exploring the Gale Crater arch. Geologists believe that this is a naturally carved landscape on Mars under the erosion of the environment of wind and sand all the year round.
The Gale Crater is a huge impact crater with a diameter of about 154 kilometers and an estimated history of 3.5 to 3.8 billion years. The area Curiosity is currently investigating is an intermediate zone that transitions from an area rich in clay to another area rich in sulfates (such as gypsum and Epsom salts).
Judging from the evidence currently available, these two regions had abundant water resources before, so NASA is very interested in studying these regions, hoping to find any clues that can prove that Mars has a habitable environment before, such as at least once. There have been microorganisms.
After Curiosity discovered this arch-shaped stone, NASA directed Curiosity to take a closer look and take pictures. The width of the field of view on the photos sent back is only about 16.5 cm, which means that the actual scale of the stone sculpture is not large.
Planetary geologist (Michelle Minitti) said in a press release issued by NASA that this small arched stone sculpture is made of anti-erosion materials. There is a lot of wind and sand in the Gaer Pit all year round, and the strange rocky landscape there is the best proof. Just as the natural environment of the earth can carve out all kinds of wonders, the environment like Mars also created the landforms there. The materials that can not withstand the erosion of wind and sand are worn away, and what remains is the strong materials that can withstand the erosion, and they show all kinds of peculiar shapes.
Martian geologist Gwénaël Caravaca tweeted, “This stone sculpture looks like a snake, a horn, and a spiral strand of DNA. Whatever it looks like, I think it’s a remote microscopic imager ( A Martian wonder captured by RMI is a masterpiece of natural weathering on Mars.”
Active-minded Mars fans are very interested in the various rocks on Mars.
In early June, in another photo sent back by Perseverance, another rover, a strange stone made everyone laugh. The smooth surface of the stone with perfect curvature split into two halves from the middle. NASA engineer (Kevin Gill) discovered the rock from massive data and posted a photo on it in a tweet, calling it a “butt crack rock”. ◇#
Editor in charge: Ye Ziwei
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