![]() Minerals in each grain are evidence of geology and composition of source terrains, grain size, and roundness bear witness to erosional processes that shaped and transported pebbles, and matrix makeup can provide information about the chemistry, pH, and redox state of fluids that infilled space between clasts after they were deposited.Īdditionally, these types of rocks can help complete the “conglomerate test,” a paleomagnetic tool used by geochronologists to date magnetization events in a planet’s past. Conglomerates are important because they provide a window into the past, recording information about a variety of geologic events and environmental shifts. What’s the deal with conglomerates and why is the team so interested in collecting one?Ĭonglomerates are a type of sedimentary rock made up of rounded pebble-sized grains greater than 2 mm across, cemented together in a matrix of finer-grained minerals, mud, or sand. ![]() The team set sights on a neighboring outcrop called Stone Man Pass, about 40 meters away, to search for a less crumbly conglomerate that could stand up to the coring process.Ī Crumbly Conglomerate: This image of the Ouzel Falls abrasion patch was taken by Perseverance’s WATSON camera on Sol 799 (May 20, 2023), revealing an array of pebbly clasts in a soft, crumbly matrix. Two attempts were made to core at the Onahu outcrop, but the soft rock crumbled during each attempt. Sampling Martian rocks requires persistence! Right now, Perseverance is on the hunt for a conglomerate rock to sample for return to Earth – a task that is proving to be challenging. The results of this test could potentially explain the thin Martian atmosphere by indicating the activity period of the Martian magnetic field. These conglomerate rocks provide insights into a variety of geological events, erosional processes, and environmental changes and are key to conducting the “conglomerate test” that reveals magnetization events. The rover’s mission has been challenging due to the rocks’ fragile structure. NASA’s Perseverance rover is trying to collect a conglomerate rock sample from Mars to help scientists understand the planet’s geological history and its magnetic field activity. This illustration depicts NASA’s Mars 2020 rover studying rocks with its robotic arm.
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