Scientists from NASA managed to find out the nature of the formation of purple spots located under a thick layer of dust on Mars. It turned out that the appearance of such formations is directly related to the presence of minerals on the Red Planet, such as iron oxide and hematite.
This discovery was made possible thanks to a special Mastcam camera, which is equipped with special filters. This innovative device allowed scientists to investigate the composition of the mineral deposits found on Mars. But to do this, the Curiosity rover had to clear the surface of this planet from a layer of dust.
The space agency had to use three-stage processing of the images and images taken with the Mastcam camera. As a result, scientists have established that iron oxide and hematite are present in the Martian mountains and rocks.
These minerals create purple spots, which for almost ten years haunted not only scientists, but also lovers of UFOs, mysticism, science fiction. This composition of minerals was traced by researchers at a rock located near Rozhdestvenskaya Bay. Previously it was assumed that the level of radiation substances in the atmosphere of Mars is very high.
Rodion Sinogeykin