Royer et al: "Intense alteration on early Mars revealed by high-aluminum rocks at Jezero crater"
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01837-2

Short summary by @IRAP : https://astrodon.social/@IRAP/114041811773990603

#JezeroDeltaScience #JezeroBrightRocks #spinel #kaolinite

[Under the Martian #tropics ...] There was a time when #water abounded and shaped the Martian #landscapes. This is evidenced by several fragments of clear, alumina-rich #rocks recently analyzed by the instruments of the #Perseverance rover ...

These rocks contain minerals such as #kaolinite, one of the markers of a once habitable environment. Infos+ : https://www.irap.omp.eu/en/2025/02/could-mars-have-had-a-tropical-climate-in-the-past/

#planetology #Mars #mars2020

[Sous les #tropiques martiens ...] Il fut un temps où l' #eau abondait et façonnait les #paysages martiens. En témoignent plusieurs fragments de #roches claires riches en alumine récemment analysés par les instruments du rover #Perseverance ...

Ces roches renferment des minéraux telle la #kaolinite, l'un des marqueurs d’un environnement autrefois habitable. Infos+ : https://www.irap.omp.eu/2025/02/mars-aurait-elle-connu-un-climat-tropical-passe/

#planetology #Mars #mars2020

Fuck yeah #MinCup24 time!! 🎉🎉

Also, #kaolinite may be classic and will probably win (and will probably be what spouse votes for), but I went for #abelsonite.

Listen I may only be a lay person who doesn't understand all the science, but it's an organonickel. Science thinks the organic part is *chlorophyll* even tho it forms at depth, according to mindat. How fucking cool is that?!

via @MineralCup

https://mastodon.social/@MineralCup/113060708061417842

Today is the first duel of #MinCup2024. It's the well known #kaolinite, an important ingredient for #porcelain/#china, vs. the rare #mineral #abelsonite. Doesn't matter how rare... #foodbowl beats everything 😹
#DoesItCat ? Of course 😹

#geologywithcats
#MinCup24 #TeamKaolinite