Catalog Page for PIA06771

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PIA06771: Soft Rock Yields Clues to Mars' Past

Target Name:	Mars
Is a satellite of:	Sol (our sun)
Mission:	Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
Spacecraft:	Spirit
Instrument:	Navigation Camera
Product Size:	1024 x 1024 pixels (w x h)
Produced By:	JPL
Full-Res TIFF:	PIA06771.tif (1.05 MB)
Full-Res JPEG:	PIA06771.jpg (192.5 kB)

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

Figure 1

This image taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows the rock outcrop dubbed "Clovis." The rock was discovered to be softer than other rocks studied so far at Gusev Crater after the rover easily ground a hole into it with its rock abrasion tool. Spirit's solar panels can be seen in the foreground. This image was taken by the rover's navigation camera on sol 205 (July 31, 2004).

Elemental Trio Found in 'Clovis'
Figure 1 above shows that the interior of the rock dubbed "Clovis" contains higher concentrations of sulfur, bromine and chlorine than basaltic, or volcanic, rocks studied so far at Gusev Crater. The data were taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's alpha particle X-ray spectrometer after the rover dug into Clovis with its rock abrasion tool. The findings might indicate that this rock was chemically altered, and that fluids once flowed through the rock depositing these elements.

Image Credit:

NASA/JPL

Image Addition Date:

2004-08-18