NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is examining a valley where at least two types of bedrock meet, for clues about changes in ancient environmental conditions recorded by the rock. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is examining a valley where at least two types of bedrock meet, for clues about changes in ancient environmental conditions recorded by the rock.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

 

 

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is examing a zone where two regional rock units neighbor each other near “Marias Pass.”

The rover is inspecting an area where at least two types of bedrock meet, finding pale mudstone and darker, finely bedded sandstone.

 

 

Story-telling rock

According to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Curiosity website: “On Mars as on Earth, each layer of a sedimentary rock tells a story about the environment in which it was formed and modified. Contacts between adjacent layers hold particular interest as sites where changes in environmental conditions may be studied. Some contacts show smooth transitions; others are abrupt.”

Curiosity's Front Hazcam: Left B image taken on Sol 1032, May 2, 2015. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Curiosity’s Front Hazcam: Left B image taken on Sol 1032, May 2, 2015.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

This site of mudstone and sandstone also includes a thin band of coarser-grained rock that’s different from either of these materials.

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm, on July 2, 2015, Sol 1032.  Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), located on the turret at the end of the rover’s robotic arm, on July 2, 2015, Sol 1032.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

 

Full operation

In late May, Curiosity climbed an incline of up to 21 degrees to reach Marias Pass, guided by images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Curiosity’s international team of researchers has resumed full operations of the car-size mobile laboratory after a period of limited activity during most of June.

 

 Mastcam Right image, taken on July 1, Sol 1031. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS


Mastcam Right image, taken on July 1, Sol 1031.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

 

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