here’s a bit of a mystery unfolding on Mars. Late last
year, Curiosity drilled into the surface of the Red
Planet and unearthed something unexpected, a
mineral called tridymite. An analysis of this find has
just been published in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences explaining that the presence of
tridymite could completely change our understanding of
Mars’ past.
Tridymite is a silicon dioxide (silica) mineral that crystallizes
at low pressure and high temperatures in excess of 800
degrees Celsius (1,472 degrees F). As far as we know, it is
only associated with the high temperatures and conditions
seen in silicic volcanism — volcanoes with magma
containing a large proportion of silica. These geological
processes are the result of plate tectonics and flowing
water on Earth, but Mars doesn’t have either of those.
Tridymite, not actually from Mars.
The tridymite on Mars was found in Gale Crater after
Curiosity drilled down in search of interesting minerals,
which were identified via x-ray examination. After confirming
a high concentration of tridymite in the samples, NASA
began looking at terrestrial processes that might provide an
alternative way of producing the mineral — something that
Mars does have. According to the paper, they’ve come up
with no alternative.
year, Curiosity drilled into the surface of the Red
Planet and unearthed something unexpected, a
mineral called tridymite. An analysis of this find has
just been published in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences explaining that the presence of
tridymite could completely change our understanding of
Mars’ past.
Tridymite is a silicon dioxide (silica) mineral that crystallizes
at low pressure and high temperatures in excess of 800
degrees Celsius (1,472 degrees F). As far as we know, it is
only associated with the high temperatures and conditions
seen in silicic volcanism — volcanoes with magma
containing a large proportion of silica. These geological
processes are the result of plate tectonics and flowing
water on Earth, but Mars doesn’t have either of those.
Tridymite, not actually from Mars.
The tridymite on Mars was found in Gale Crater after
Curiosity drilled down in search of interesting minerals,
which were identified via x-ray examination. After confirming
a high concentration of tridymite in the samples, NASA
began looking at terrestrial processes that might provide an
alternative way of producing the mineral — something that
Mars does have. According to the paper, they’ve come up
with no alternative.
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