RED PLANET

Mars Rover Finds ‘Jackpot’

Finds strong evidence of water.

NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity has found white veins of minerals in rocks, which were likely created by water flowing through fissures in the rocks. Yellowknife Bay, the area Curiosity is currently exploring, “is literally shot through with these fractures,” according to one geologist. Curiosity also found many berry-shaped spherules that scientists say are sedimentary concretions that formed in water. One expert said, “Basically these rocks were saturated with water,” adding that Yellowknife Bay represents “a jackpot unit.” Curiosity landed on Mars in August and has spent the last six months testing its instruments. It has traveled roughly a quarter of a mile since landing.