Haematite concretions similar to Martian blueberries of Mars have been found in Kutch, Gujarat.
Context
Haematite concretions similar to Martian blueberries of Mars have been found in Kutch, Gujarat.
About Martian blueberries
- These are small spheres on the planet, informally named Martian blueberries.
- They were discovered in 2004 by NASA’s Mars exploration rover ‘Opportunity.
- They were made of iron oxide compounds called haematites.
- The presence of haematites suggests that there was water present on Mars.
- Haematite concretionis precipitation from aqueous fluids
- Hematite is known to form in oxidizing environments
Jhuran formation
- These are sandstones found in Kachchh, Gujarat which is between 145 and 201 million years old.
- They have similar morphology – spherical, often doublet and triplet.
- They also have similar mineralogy, a mixture of haematite and goethite.
NASA’s Mars exploration rover ‘Opportunity’
- Opportunity was the second of the two rovers launched in 2003 to land on the Red Planet in search of signs of past life.
- The rover is still actively exploring the Martian terrain, having far outlasted her planned 90-day mission.
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