Science Exploration at Mount Sharp: Analyzing Waterfalls and Channel Floors for Ongoing Discovery

On Sol 4225, the Mammoth Lakes 2 drill sample was delivered to CheMin for analysis. Meanwhile, remote science activities on Whitebark Pass, Quarry Peak, Broken Finger Peak, and Shout of Relief Pass were completed successfully.

The focus of remote science on this day was characterizing Horsetail Falls using ChemCam laser spectroscopy and Mastcam imaging. The Navcam image revealed the rugged surface of Horsetail Falls, which appeared as a dark streak of rocky material near the top right edge of the light-colored Whitebark Pass slab. This area showcased a diverse texture of bedrock and was named after a notable waterfall located at Agnew Lake, visible from the June Lake Loop road.

Shout of Relief Pass was named after the 11000 ft pass on the Sierra High Route trail, marking an entry point to easier terrain for the subsequent 25 miles of the trail. All designated targets in this region of Mount Sharp are named after Bishop geological quadrangle in High Sierra and Owens Valley of California. In addition to this, ChemCam RMI will capture an 11×1 mosaic of the nearby channel floor to investigate intriguing color variations.

Atmospheric observations during this science block included a survey of dust devils. SAM will finalize its initial analysis in upcoming plan. Following SAM and CheMin results, the team will make a decision on whether to conduct further chemistry at current location or proceed with ascent up Mount Sharp.