spacetoday.net: Spirit finds more evidence of Mars water

Posted: Thu, Aug 19, 2004, 10:13 AM ET (1413 GMT)
Mars Exploration Rover (NASA/JPL)

The NASA Mars rover Spirit has found additional evidence that water once flowed through and altered the rocks in Gusev Crater, project scientists said Wednesday. Analysis of a rock dubbed Clovis, located in the Columbia Hills about nine meters above the plain of Gusev Crater, found high levels of elements bromine, sulfur, and chloride in the rock, suggesting that the rock’s mineral composition had been altered in the presence of liquid water. Scientists said they believe Clovis is a "highly altered" rock, but are looking for other rocks to analyze to compare with Clovis before they know how much water the rock was exposed to. Spirit's twin, Opportunity, is continuing its exploration within Endurance Crater on the other side of the planet. Both rovers have experienced minor mechanical problems, including a rock abrasion tool on Opportunity that stopped working on Sunday. Engineers believe, though, that they can fix the problem and get the tool working again in a few days.