New evidence suggest lake once existed in Gale Crater
Scientists have concluded that mineral veins seen by Curiosity in Gale Crater were created when a lake existed there.
The study suggests that the veins formed as the sediments from the ancient lake were buried, heated to about 50 degrees Celsius and corroded. Professor John Bridges from the University of Leicester Department of Physics and Astronomy said: “The taste of this Martian groundwater would be rather unpleasant, with about 20 times the content of sulphate and sodium than bottled mineral water for instance!”
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Scientists have concluded that mineral veins seen by Curiosity in Gale Crater were created when a lake existed there.
The study suggests that the veins formed as the sediments from the ancient lake were buried, heated to about 50 degrees Celsius and corroded. Professor John Bridges from the University of Leicester Department of Physics and Astronomy said: “The taste of this Martian groundwater would be rather unpleasant, with about 20 times the content of sulphate and sodium than bottled mineral water for instance!”
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
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You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Mars stinks like rotten eggs. I don’t think bottled Martian water will become a big seller on Earth (but who knows, people are crazy). It might however become a successful consumer product on the local Martian market, since it doesn’t have any competitors. You’ll get used to the stench and stop thinking about it, I understand this is how we react to sulfates, it numbs our nose. Just very surprising for your guests.
Bob, I have sent the following email to the lead scientists who wrote this paper – – –
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/press-releases/2016/august/veins-on-mars-were-formed-by-evaporating-ancient-lakes
Any bets on reply(s)?
=================================
Susanne and John,
My name is Phillip Veerkamp. I am a 72-year-old retired un-credentialed “astrobiology hobbyist”. I have zero scientific reputation at stake. I am absolutely free to jump to wild conclusions.
In the past few days Curiosity has returned pictures from at least two “brushed” rocks from the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) images for Sol 1416 – http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?s=1416&camera=MAHLI
AND:
Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) images for Sol 1418 – http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?s=1418&camera=MAHLI
My meager geology training says that there is one and ONLY one explanation for naturally occurring fibers in mudstone – BIOLOGICAL.
I say we are looking at an ancient Martian “peat bog” [rough analogue].
What say you? J
I do not expect you guys to risk your reputations through casual speculation, but can you comment? . . . safely?
Kindest regards,
Phil Veerkamp
You might get a reply, but it will be something likely along the lines that we doubt that is the case, but we are looking at these features very closely. And I would not expect them to say much more than that, at this point, if that.