Dancing with the Stars: We will rock you.

[Figure 1.1]

This image is from Geology.com. It represents what igneous basalt looks like. It has a non metallic luster. It is fine grained which means it has no thick particles or pieces. It is aggregated with pyroxene and plagioclase.

As of October 30, 2012, Mike Wall published on www.space.com intriguing news about the “Curiosity” Rover exploring on Mars. The “Curiosity” landed on Mars on August 5, 2012, with an ellipse of 4 miles by 12 miles, traveling at a speed of 13,000 mph. The Rover, no smaller than the size of a Mini Cooper automobile, has the main goal of exploring the possibility of microbial life being able to exist in Mars.

The rover uses a 7 ft arm to collect rock samples to test and analyze the types and amounts of minerals near and around Crater Gale. Inside this crater is an unusual up rise mound of sediment which “Curiosity” is exploring. Recently, the rover has begun studying the Martian soil in terms of its Mineralogy and Chemistry using an instrument named CheMin. It is one of ten tools used to detect remote support for microbial life on the red planet. It is stated that there is a similarity between the mineralogy of Martian soil and some rocks on Earth, typically that of mountains in Hawaii. The article explains the majority of the surface is covered with sedimentary basaltic rock. The sediment contains pyroxene, feldspar, and olivine. “Curiosty” clarifies this, for it uses a typical test that we use on Earth called x-ray diffraction. This is the first time that this technique is used on another planet. The finding of these minerals doesn’t exactly support a strong relation with water, as opposed to the conglomerate rocks (a type of sedimentary rock that consists of clasts with spaces filled with smaller particles or chemical cement putting them in conjunction). [Figure 1.2] –suggested a strong relationship with water in the past, as well as other ancient rocks. It is indeed hypothesized that there may has been water on Mars in ancient times through signs of weathered rock, but newer rocks shows that there has not been water in long time.

[Figure 1.2]

This image, taken from www.geology.com, shows a conglomerate rock about 2 inches long. The limestone or chert clasts bound in a matrix of sand clay can be observed in it. In addition to using CheMin, a different technique called sample analysis at Mars, SAM, will analyze organic compounds, the building blocks of life. SAM’s activities haven’t been reported, but in a few days’ time, it should collect enough data to produce a report and determine the existence of these compounds. It’s already been looking for methane, CH4 , a compound released by living things. (There will be an update of a further investigation for this topic in about 4 days from the publication of this report.) To conclude with latest news, the “Curiorsity” is preparing to drill into Mars which will lead to further research, and then reach its ultimate destination- Mount Sharp- whose foothills are believed to have had liquid water. Till next time EarthlingS!!!!!!!!

Geology Group: Glenn Haave, Valerya Charry and Jorge Alcina.

References: 1) http://www.space.com/18286-mars-rover-curiosity-soil-analysis-chemin.html 2) http://geology.com/rocks/conglomerate.shtml 3) Bryant, Ann. Basalt. Digital image. Geology.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2012. .