7/21/2019 Curiosity finds silica deposits on Mars

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Washington: Nasa’s MarsCuriosity rover has foundhigh concentrations of silica

 — a rock-forming chemical

commonly seen on Earth asquartz — which could helpscientists learn more aboutthe ancient wet environmenton the red planet.

Curiosity found muchhigher concentrations of sili-ca at some sites it has studiedin the past seven months. Sili-

ca makes up nine-tenths of the composition of some of the rocks.

“These high-silica compo-sitions are a puzzle. You can bo-

ost the concentration of silicaeither by leaching away otheringredients while leaving the

silica besilica frsaid Albam mem

Wattend toents awhind. Ater cousilica thfrom th

The Mount S

threadsearlier und ha

Curiosity finds silica d

PUZZLING FIND

© Denis Scott/CORBIS

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