Curiosity Discovers New Nodules and Insights on the Martian Landscape with ChemCam Exploration

At the “Glasgow” site, the science team’s focus today is on collecting chemistry data using ChemCam and CheMin. The one-sol plan includes a one-hour science block with ChemCam observations of three nearby targets: bedrock target “Gutcher,” nodular bedrock target “Lochbuie,” and vein target “Thistle Street.”

The science team has been analyzing bedrock targets containing nodules in the “Lochbuie” area for several weeks, and they are interested in assessing whether the concentration and chemistry of nodules vary with distance from nearby fractures. To maintain continuity, targets in this vicinity are named with “Loch” in their names, with “Lochbuie” being the latest addition to the list that includes targets like “Loch na Keal,” “Loch Olabhat,” “Loch Trool,” and “Bishops Loch.”

ChemCam’s Remote Micro Imager captured an image showing the nodular texture in the “Loch Olabhat 2” target. The small, dark laser pits created by ChemCam track horizontally across the nodule-rich rock in the center-right of the image demonstrate how this exploration is part of an ongoing drill campaign at the site, with a focus on collecting chemistry data through observations and analysis of different targets in the area. By studying the variation in nodules with distance from fractures in the bedrock, the science team aims to gather valuable insights into the geological composition and history of the “Glasgow” site. With each target analyzed, Curiosity continues to uncover new information that contributes to our understanding of the Martian landscape and its geology.