NASA’s Curiosity rover, which has been driving around the surface of Mars for over 12 years, recently discovered a mineral called siderite on the slopes of Mount Sharp in Gale Crater. Interestingly, siderite might be the mineral that helps planetary scientists finally solve the mystery of where Mars’ carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere went.
Solving such a mystery could prove vital to understanding the red planet’s past and provide scientists with insight into how the atmosphere of Mars evolved to its current state.