Which instrument provided chemical analysis that pointed to minerals like jarosite?
Answer
APXS (Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer).
The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer, abbreviated as APXS, was an instrumental component critical for determining the elemental composition of rocks and soil samples analyzed by Opportunity. When scientists examined the internal structure of rocks, especially features like sulfate-rich veins, the chemical signatures detected by the APXS pointed toward the presence of specific minerals such as jarosite. Jarosite formation is significant because it is a strong indicator that the water present in those ancient cracks was acidic in nature.
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