By: Sarine Rong

NASA’s rover, Curiosity, has just found some of the most unusual rocks on Mars.

The discovery was made on May 30, 2024, when the rover unintentionally drove over a rock, causing it to crack and expose a large cluster of pure sulfur that couldn’t have naturally grown on the planet.

“I think it’s the strangest find of the whole mission and the most unexpected,” said Ashwin Vasavada, a scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “I have to say, there’s a lot of luck involved here. Not every rock has something interesting inside.”

Since October 2023, the rover has been investigating a certain region of Mars that was known for being rich in sulfates, a type of salt that forms when sulfur mixes with other minerals in the water. This discovery is very significant, as this has been the first time pure sulfur has been discovered on Mars.

“Finding a field of stones made of pure sulfur is like finding an oasis in the desert,” explained Vasavada. “It shouldn’t be there, so now we have to explain it. Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting.”

Since 2014, Curiosity has been driving on Mount Sharp, a 3-mile mountain located in the Gediz Vallis Channel. According to NASA, each stratum of the mountain represents a distinct phase in the history of Mars. Its mission is to search for signs of life and to gain a deeper understanding of the planet.

NASA’s discovery of pure sulfur on Mars opens up new possibilities and helps preserve the excitement of planetary exploration.