Mars Soil Similar To Volcanic Sand On Hawaii's Mauna Kea, NASA Curiosity Rover Finds
10/30/12 05:15 PM ET EDT



PASADENA, Calif. -- Scientists say the Martian soil at the rover Curiosity's landing site contains minerals similar to what's found on Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano.

The finding released Tuesday is the latest step in trying to better understand whether the environment could have been hospitable to microbial life.

Curiosity recently ingested its first soil sample and used one of its instruments to tease out the minerals present. An analysis revealed it contained feldspar and olivine, minerals typically associated with volcanic eruptions. Mission scientists say the Martian soil is similar to volcanic soil on the flanks of Mauna Kea.

Curiosity landed near the Martian equator in August on a two-year mission. It'll be another month before it drills into its first rock. Then it's expected to head toward a mountain by year's end.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/mars-s...rover_n_2048835.html

I wonder how long it'll be before a birther claims Obama is Martian.

I've read a thread title of a post elsewhere today, saying Obama was made & grew up on clone island.

Volcanic soil's very fertile isn't it?

Gilly wrote: True, true ..... Although I'm not certain it's more fertile than manure is.

soil by my understanding contains life. its composed of rock minerals and organic matter spat out by microbes and upwards.
the use of the word soil in the huff article, i find interesting.

Ok no-one as far as i can see has mention that glowy thing in the pic,is it a recently dragged upon cigar, or something else

MrsGood wrote:
I was wondering that too.

TBH, that photo looks like someone took a pic of some builders sand left out near roadworks in Manchester that I saw recently

diamondgeezer wrote:
Yeah totally, builders love Mars soil

^ That made me laugh was naughty.

martian soil or is it

MrsGood wrote:
I'm sure Martian builders would - if they existed...