What type of water interaction did Spirit's discovery of opaline silica suggest for the Gusev Crater environment?

Answer

Sustained, potentially warm/hydrothermal activity

The geological evidence gathered by Spirit, particularly the discovery of opaline silica deposits, suggested a more persistent and energetic aqueous history within Gusev Crater than simple, sporadic surface flows might account for. On terrestrial planets, opaline silica typically forms over significant durations in the presence of warm water, often associated with geothermal or hot spring features where water circulates and interacts chemically with subsurface rock. The abundance of this mineral indicated that the wet environment in Gusev Crater might have been sustained and warm enough over time to facilitate the creation of these secondary minerals, implying a warmer, wetter past compared to other Martian locales.

What type of water interaction did Spirit's discovery of opaline silica suggest for the Gusev Crater environment?

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