NASA reveals the mystery behind Mars's strange 'zebra rock'
What's the story
NASA's Perseverance rover has made a remarkable discovery on Mars, a rock unlike any other seen before.
The unusual find, dubbed the "zebra rock," was first spotted on September 13.
The raw image transmitted by the rover reveals a striped stone with contrasting dark and light features, resting on the Martian surface.
This discovery has sparked widespread interest and speculation among scientists and space enthusiasts alike.
Unique discovery
'Freya Castle' is unlike any other Martian rock
The Perseverance team first noticed the striped rock from a distance before instructing the rover to capture more detailed images.
The unique stone, approximately 20cm across, was christened 'Freya Castle' after a geographical feature in the Grand Canyon.
Athanasios Klidaras, a member of the Perseverance team and doctoral student at Purdue University, stated that this rock's texture is unlike any other observed in Jezero Crater or perhaps even on Mars.
Scientific speculation
Igneous and/or metamorphic processes could have created the stripes: NASA
"Our knowledge of its chemical composition is limited, but early interpretations are that igneous and/or metamorphic processes could have created its stripes," said NASA in a blog post.
"Since Freya Castle is a loose stone that is clearly different from the underlying bedrock, it has likely arrived here from someplace else, perhaps having rolled downhill from a source higher up."
Igneous rocks are associated with volcanic activities, while metamorphic rocks form under heat, pressure, or fluids.
Martian exploration
Perseverance's ongoing mission to explore Mars
The rock's unique appearance has led to comparisons with familiar Earth rocks like granite, gneiss, and marble.
However, definitive conclusions about its chemical composition remain elusive due to limited knowledge.
The Perseverance rover is currently ascending the rim of Jezero Crater, an area once home to an ancient lake and river.
The mission's primary objective is to investigate whether Mars could have supported microbial life in the past.