Gypsum Deposit Confirms Mars Had Water

Opportunity has been roving around Mars now for 8 years. In the latest scientific data sent back to NASA Opportunity sent back some surprising information. NASA announced to the American Geophysical Union that it has found a form of calcium sulfate near the rim of the 96 mile wide Endeavour Crater. The calcium sulfate contained a significant amount of water according to the analysis. The vein of gypsum was found in an ancient rock, not blowing around on the surface. Gypsum is formed when calcium-containing water comes in contact with sulfates. Gypsum – commonly known as plaster of Paris – typically forms from water flowing through rock.

“This is the single most bulletproof observation that I can think of that we’ve made this entire mission,” said Cornell University planetary scientist Steve Squyres, lead researcher for NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers (Reuters).

It is almost a scientific fact now that water was flowing through the surface of Mars sometime in its past.