sandstone Archives - Astrobiology

(a) Mastcam-Z image of the base of the delta with the Rockytop outcrop within the 6 m high scarp (sol 429, zcam08452) located at the base of the Tenby formation immediately overlying the Hogwallow Flats light-toned deposits. The white arrow indicates the fallen block where the SuperCam target Fourway has been analyzed. -- JGR Planets

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report

In Situ Carbonation of Sedimentary and Igneous Rocks of Ultramafic Composition in Jezero Crater, Mars

by Keith CowingMay 15, 2026May 15, 2026

Over 3.5 years of exploration in Jezero Crater, the Perseverance rover has explored several geological units of diverse origins and natures, performing multi-technique remote analyses of the chemistry and mineralogy […]

Mapped CBs (channel belts) outlined in black and the putative shorelines in blue. Yellow outlines indicate avulsed CB paths. The backwater/belt-width window for each CB is shown in orange. Avulsion nodes are marked with gold stars and circles; stars when they fall within the backwater/belt-width window, and circles when they fall outside. Histogram shows the avulsion length of identified nodes (stars and circles) in terms of their distance upstream measured in backwater lengths. Note that most nodes are ∼1 backwater length upstream. -- Geophysical Research Letters

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Mars, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Did Mars Once Have an Ocean? New Research Suggests Yes

by Keith CowingOctober 9, 2025June 10, 2026

Billions of years ago, water flowed across Mars. Most scientists agree the red planet had rivers. But did those rivers flow into an ocean? New research from the University of […]

Candor Chasma in central Valles Marineris -- NASA HiRISE

Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report

Martian Sandstone In West Candor Chasma

by Keith CowingMay 22, 2025May 22, 2025

Candor Chasma in central Valles Marineris is filled with light-toned layered deposits thought to be sandstones, perhaps formed in an ancient wet and potentially habitable environment.

IMAGE: Xanthoria Elegans on Expose-E was collected in the mountains of Spain -- ESA (larger image)

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Panspermia, Sample Return, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report

Biomarker Preservation in Antarctic Sandstones after Prolonged Space Exposure Outside the International Space Station During the ESA EXPOSE-E Lichens and Fungi Experiment

by Keith CowingApril 18, 2025April 18, 2025

A primary aim of current and future space exploration missions is the detection and identification of chemical and biological indicators of life, namely biomarkers, on Mars.

Photographs of Tava injectites within a darker-colored, red-brown to purple host comprising sandstone ridges. Outcrops (A) and (C) and their sketch overlays (B) and (D), respectively, showing 1st-(purple) and 2nd-(gold) generation injectites. Locations are North Cheyenne Canyon (A, B) and Manitou Springs (C, D). (A-B) are repeated from the main text figures but display further highlighted details. Study locations are shown in Fig. S2. -- PNAS

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Cryobiology, Extinction events, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Hematite U-Pb Dating Of Snowball Earth Meltwater Events

by Keith CowingDecember 2, 2024December 2, 2024

The Snowball Earth hypothesis predicts global ice cover; however, previous descriptions of Cryogenian (720-635 Ma) glacial deposits are limited to continental margins and shallow marine basins.