Mars Perseverance rover has given a nighttime image of the Malgosa Crest abrasion patch located at “Serpentine Rapids.” This image was capture using the SHERLOC WATSON camera on the rover’s robotic arm.
The abrasion patch, measuring 5 centimetres in diameter, features a notable green spot, approximately 2 millimetres wide.
This image was taken on 19th August, 2024, during the 1,243rd Martian day of the Mars 2020 mission.
Following its sampling of the “leopard spots” at “Bright Angel,” Perseverance continue its exploration of this fascinating region.
About 20 sols later, after navigating south from Bright Angel across Neretva Vallis, the rover encounter striking red rocks at Serpentine Rapids.
Then there it create an abrasion patch in a red rock formation known as “Wallace Butte.”
This patch reveal an array of colours, including white, black and green hues.
The discovery of green spots surprised the rover team.
These spots, consisting of dark cores surrounded by fuzzy, light green rims, present a unique geological feature.
On Earth, red rocks typically derive their hue from oxidized iron, similar to the colour of blood or rust.
The formation of green spots, like those found at Wallace Butte, is common in ancient “red beds” on our planet.
This process occurs when liquid water seeps through sediment, triggering a chemical reaction that alters the iron’s oxidation state, resulting in a greenish tint.
While such changes can involve microbial activity on Earth, they can also arise from decaying organic matter or interactions between sulfur and iron.
But, the rover was unable to analyse the green spots directly due to space constraints.
As a result, their precise composition code.
