by APOD Robot » Wed Mar 09, 2022 5:05 am
A Flower-Shaped Rock on Mars
Explanation: It is one of the more unusual rocks yet found on Mars. Smaller than a penny, the rock has several appendages that make it look, to some, like a flower. Although it would be a major discovery if the rock was truly a fossilized ancient
Martian flower, there are
less spectacular -- and
currently preferred -- explanations for its unusual structure. One theory that has emerged is that the rock is a type of
concretion created by minerals deposited by water in cracks or divisions in existing rock. These concretions can be compacted together, can be harder and denser than surrounding rock, and can remain even after the surrounding rock
erodes away. The flower structure may also be caused by
crystal clusters. The
small rock, named Blackthorn Salt, has similarities to
previously imaged Martian pebbles. The
featured image was taken by the
Curiosity rover on
Mars in late February. Scientists will continue to study data and images taken of this -- and similar -- surprising
Martian rocks.
[url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220309.html] [img]https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/S_220309.jpg[/img] [size=150]A Flower-Shaped Rock on Mars[/size][/url]
[b] Explanation: [/b] It is one of the more unusual rocks yet found on Mars. Smaller than a penny, the rock has several appendages that make it look, to some, like a flower. Although it would be a major discovery if the rock was truly a fossilized ancient [url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia25077-curiosity-finds-a-martian-flower]Martian flower[/url], there are [url=https://i0.wp.com/mrfrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/MRFRS_SadCat.jpg]less spectacular[/url] -- and [url=https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/sites/default/files/why-should-i-spay-my-new-kitten-138101629.jpg]currently preferred[/url] -- explanations for its unusual structure. One theory that has emerged is that the rock is a type of [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretion]concretion[/url] created by minerals deposited by water in cracks or divisions in existing rock. These concretions can be compacted together, can be harder and denser than surrounding rock, and can remain even after the surrounding rock [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosion]erodes[/url] away. The flower structure may also be caused by [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_cluster]crystal clusters[/url]. The [url=https://www.universetoday.com/154699/curiosity-finds-a-bizarre-rock-on-mars-that-looks-like-a-flower/]small rock[/url], named Blackthorn Salt, has similarities to [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140929.html]previously[/url] [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060126.html]imaged[/url] [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040817.html]Martian[/url] [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040405.html]pebbles[/url]. The [url=https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/26587/curiosity-finds-a-martian-flower/]featured image[/url] was taken by the [url=https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/home/]Curiosity rover[/url] on [url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mars/in-depth/]Mars[/url] in late February. Scientists will continue to study data and images taken of this -- and similar -- surprising [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap991030.html]Martian rocks[/url].
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