Tintina (rock)

Tintina Rock

Close-up of "Tintina" rock – broken exposed area is associated with strong signals of mineral hydration – as viewed by the Curiosity rover (January 19, 2013).[1][2]
Feature type Rock
Coordinates 4°35′S 137°26′E / 4.59°S 137.44°ECoordinates: 4°35′S 137°26′E / 4.59°S 137.44°E

Tintina is a rock on the surface of Aeolis Palus, between Peace Vallis and Aeolis Mons (Mount Sharp), in Gale crater on the planet Mars. The approximate site coordinates are: 4°35′S 137°26′E / 4.59°S 137.44°E.

The rock was encountered by the Curiosity rover on the way from Bradbury Landing to Glenelg Intrique in January 2013.[1][2] The rover ran over the rock and broke it. A white surface area was revealed. When the broken white area was analyzed with the rover's MastCam, strong signals of mineral hydration, as indicated by a ratio of near infrared reflectance intensities, were found. According to mission scientists, the mineral hydration signals were consistent with hydrated calcium sulfate[1][2] and a "watery past" on Mars.[3]

Broken area – Context View.
Broken area shows strong signals of mineral hydration (noted in red)
Viewed by the Curiosity Rover (January 19, 2013).


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References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Webster, Guy; Brown, Dwayne (March 18, 2013). "Curiosity Mars Rover Sees Trend In Water Presence". NASA. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Rincon, Paul (March 19, 2013). "Curiosity breaks rock to reveal dazzling white interior". BBC. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  3. ↑ Staff (March 20, 2013). "Red planet coughs up a white rock, and scientists freak out". MSN. Retrieved March 20, 2013.

External links

Notable rocks on Mars
Adirondack
(Spirit)		 Barnacle Bill
(Sojourner)		 Bathurst Inlet
(Curiosity)		 Big Joe*
(Viking)		 Block Island
(Opportunity) M		 Bounce
(Opportunity)		 Coronation
(Curiosity)		 El Capitan
(Opportunity)
Esperance*
(Opportunity)		 Goulburn
(Curiosity)		 Heat Shield
(Opportunity) M		 Home Plate
(Spirit)		 Hottah
(Curiosity)		 Jake Matijevic
(Curiosity)		 Last Chance
(Opportunity)		 Link
(Curiosity)
Mackinac Island
(Opportunity) M		 Mimi*
(Spirit)		 Oileán Ruaidh
(Opportunity) M		 Pot of Gold
(Spirit)		 Rocknest 3
(Curiosity)		 Shelter Island
(Opportunity) M		 Tintina
(Curiosity)		 Yogi
(Sojourner)
|(Notes: * = links to relevant article; M = Meteorite)