Mars Rocks

(Note: These rocks are NOT from Mars. They are Earth rocks that represent rocks that have been observed on Mars or, in some cases, which we hope to find on the Red Planet, but might not find there.)

Purpose: This set of specimens allows facilitators to discuss the geology of Mars and present to visitors one of the scientific research areas of the Mars Mission: finding out the past geologic history of Mars.

Main teaching points:

1)The rock tray contains three categories of rocks with respect to current knowledge of Mars geology:

  1. rocks such as vesicular basalt that we have observed via Mars landers or rovers.
  1. rocks such as native sulfur that have not been directly observed but occur near extinct hot springs (such as Alba Patera).
  2. rocks such as stromatolite which, if we found then would prove beyond a doubt that live once existed on Mars.

2)The provenance, (ie the exact setting and context where we find the rock) can also us about the history and geologic development of Mars. Rocks can get to their present location by a variety of processes, including, meteor falls, secondary ejecta from impactors, land sliding, erosional deposition, or in situ lithification.

Objects:

Experiment Bar Activities – 7-07

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  • Tray with nine simulated Mars rock specimens
  • Text describing the nature and geology of each rock
  • A set of laminated pictures to help facilitate the “geology story” of Mars.
  • An extra box of earth rocks not found on Mars

Experiment Bar Activities – 7-07

What to do (basic):

Because this activity is portable and self contained, it will make a great warm-up activity before the Astronaut comes out on the surface.

Try This:

  1. Ask the visitor to choose rocks that would look out of placed on earth. (In fact all rocks we know of so far on Mars are (within a range) like known rocks on earth. Earth rocks are much more diverse: very few sedimentary or metamorphic rocks are found on Mars.)
  1. Ask the visitor to hypothesize, based on previous knowledge, how these rocks were formed.
  1. Have visitors point to similar rocks outside the Chandor Chasma Station.

Extra for Experts:

There are certain types of rocks not found on Mars but which are found on earth. Here is an opportunity to compare the two planets, Mars and Earth but Earth is better it. Earth rules!!!

Science Background:

  • Igneous rocks are the most common type of rock on Mars. In fact much of Mars is covered by primordial lava flows. (See pictures.)
  • Mars once had more oxygen in its atmosphere than it does today. The oxygen reacted chemically with the iron in the black lava rocks and turned them rusty colored. This helped reduce the amount of oxygen in the Martian atmosphere.
  • Without a hot core and continental drift as on earth, Mars lacks folded and faulted mountains. To see the deep rocks from the interior, scientist look for ejecta from craters. Impactors reveal deeper, older rocks on Mars, and help fill in the historical sequence on Mars.
  • Without continental rift, landscapes on Mars last longer as compared to earth landscapes. In the case of Colorado, just in the last 350 million years, a dozen different landscape occurred, ranging from high mountains to a sea floor 500 feet under the surface. (See Ancient Denvers exhibition on the third floor on DMNS.)
  • If there were an“Ancient Candor Chasma”exhibition the artist could convey what Mars looked like over the last billion years in only a few panels. Water on the surface apparently disappeared millions of years ago. It’s been cold, dry and windy ever since.

Experiment Bar Activities – 7-07