A 3ft by 2ft rock marked with off-white spots may offer fossilised record of microbes dating back billions of years
Nasa’s Perseverance rover took photos on 23 July of a rock nicknamed Cheyava Falls, seen to the left of the rover near the centre of the image.Nasa’s Perseverance rover took photos on 23 July of a rock nicknamed Cheyava Falls, seen to the left of the rover near the centre of the image.
“On the one hand, we have our first compelling detection of organic material, distinctive colourful spots indicative of chemical reactions that microbial life could use as an energy source, and clear evidence that water, necessary for life, once passed through the rock,” Farley said. Large white veins of calcium phosphate run along the rock. Between them are bands of reddish material, likely haematite, one of the iron oxide compounds that gives Mars its rusty colour. Closer inspection of the bands revealed dozens of little leopard spot-like features. Each of the off-white spots is surrounded by a black ring containing iron and phosphate.
Researchers are now desperate to get their hands on samples for more thorough investigation. But Nasa’s plans to return the Mars rocks to Earth “The reality is we need to get these samples back on Earth to do the detailed electron microscopy and isotope analyses to check if these formed with ancient microbial action or abiotically,” Bridges said.
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