Tridymite traces found on Mars
Q. Tridymite is a mineral of- Published on 27 Jun 16a. Iron
b. Silicon
c. Copper
d. Aluminium
ANSWER: Silicon
- Analysing data from an X-ray diffraction instrument on the Curiosity rover that identifies minerals, scientists detected significant amounts of a silica mineral called tridymite.
- It is a high-temperature polymorph of silica found as thin hexagonal crystals in some igneous rocks and stony meteorites.
- The combination of high silica content and extremely high temperatures in the volcanoes creates tridymite.
- Tridymite is generally associated with silicic volcanism, which is known on Earth but was not thought to be important or even present on Mars.
- The discovery of tridymite might induce scientists to rethink the volcanic history of Mars, suggesting that the planet once had explosive volcanoes that led to the presence of the mineral.
