MARTIAN BLUEBERRIES

Subject: Science & tech

Context: Martian ‘blueberries’ find a parallel on Earth. Similar haematite concretions have been found in Kutch, Gujarat.

Concept:

In 2004, NASA’s Mars exploration rover ‘Opportunity’ found several small spheres on the planet, informally named Martian blueberries.
Opportunity’s spectrometers studied the mineralogy and noted they were made of iron oxide compounds called haematites. This caused excitement, as the presence of haematites suggests that there was water present on Mars.
The widely accepted formation mechanism of haematite concretion [hard solid mass] is precipitation from aqueous fluids.
Haematite is known to form in oxidising environments, and based on our experience on Earth, we infer that water must have also played a crucial role in the formation of grey haematite on Mars.

Opportunity & Spirit Rover Mission

Opportunity was the second of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers to land on Mars in January 2004.
It landed 90 days after its twin rover Spirit landed. Spirit landed at Gusev Crater and Opportunity landed on the opposite side of Mars at Meridiani Planum.
NASA expected 90-day lifetimes for the rovers. Both Opportunity and Spirit far exceeded their expected lifetime.
Spirit’s mission ended in May 2011 after travelling eight kilometres and Opportunity had logged 45 kilometres before losing contact in June 2018.