Thanks
to the Chem Cam of Curiosity, which has lasers that check components of rocks
composition, Curiosity Rover found from 50 percent to 70 percent composition of
silica in rocks near the area “Maria Pass” in Mars. For instance, the
“Greenhorn”, marked by the light green dot showed a 64 percent of silicon
dioxide, while the typical granite that is so common in New Hampshire USA,
contains about 70 percent of silicon dioxide. This discovery was found in the
later months of 2015 and scientists of the Curiosity team are still trying to
find out why such amounts of silica composed the rocks of that specific area.
Biochemists link SiO2 with water activity and are wondering if there is any
history of microbiological life in Mars since they relate silica with
microbiological organisms here on Earth.
Chemistry Team
I: Diana Villavicencio, Ana Laura Carrera, Laura Garcia.
Sources:
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