Curiosity discovers rocks made of pure sulfur

Episode 172
Thanks to the result of a heavy rover rolling over a soft rock, Curiosity has exposed a first-of-its-kind discovery on Mars. Rocks containing sulfur are common on Mars, but ones made of pure sulfur have never been seen before.

[Rxke]

When this news broke my first thought was "I can't wait for what Mar Guy will make of this!" And lo and behold, a fire and brimstone special episode! Thank you so much for this!

[jc-iq]

It's nice to hear from Curiosity. It doesn't get the attention like its newer brother/sister.

[Miata]

I've been waiting for this post. Pure sulfur crystals are uncommon to the point I'm puzzled as to how they formed.
We need more Curiosity.

[apriladams]

Hello Curiosity!!!! It's so good to see you here on this channel! Thank you, Mars Guy, for the update on Curiosity. As much as I love Perseverance, all our rovers need their time in the limelight. We mustn't forget any of them. All the hard work and information the rovers and their teams bring to us is invaluable. Mars Guy, you're the best!!

[quantumcat]

I've seen NASA report on the same thing, namely the discovery of pure sulfur on Mars by Curiosity. Well, to be frank, your report is much more informative, concise with better narration. I wish it would be longer. Thanks!

[cabrageo]

If these are sedimentary beds, it would be even more interesting, as the pure sulphur in those deposits is thought to be derived from bacterial action on gypsum and anhydrite (both are calcium sulphates). There are deposits of that type in Texas.

[TheloniousMonk]

Thanks. Very professional discussion. Rare on

[drguenther]

Brimstone areas on earth are smelling terribly like sulfur dioxide. Would this sulfur on mars smell at all without the presence of oxide? What a great video again. For me exactly the right balance between information and entertainment. Keep on going like this. You don't need millions of klicks, you are doing the best for us 36K subscribers with your high quality information! Thanx for all of that!

[Sonnell]

Been waiting for your take on this :) Thanks!

[JustAboutAnything]

This might come in handy if future explorers find themselves confronted by The Gorn.

[billygamer]

It is so exciting to see light and whitish rocks amidst so many dark and reddish ones. As soon as I saw the image elsewhere, I pined for it to be Sunday and Mars Guy's elucidation. Thank you.

[yuriyolean]

Thank you. I have been looking at the raw images of MAHLI instrument and couldn't wrap my head around what I was seeing. Pure as a tear sulfur crystal. How is that possible? The hues and layers inside the fragments, pure joy for the eye. I need more of this. Let the Curiousity have the better of it and smack the next porous rock, in slow motion). I want to savour every millisecond). I want some UV light at night again, please). I know it's impossible but i also want the sun to illuminate it from behind, so that the sun rays would shine through. Thank you for the episode!

[neilmusgrove]

Just fascinating! what a strange and diverse world Mars is, thanks for these clear, interesting and illuminating videos!

[napalmholocaust]

It may not bubble itself, but from liberating gas from the surface it flows over. You can see it by tossing molten aluminum on seeming dry concrete or lead on wood.

[jadusiv]

Never seen any kind of giant crystals exposed on Mars, they practically drove over a geode. Some geologist was probably agog when they first saw it.

[S-T-E-V-E]

This may be outside of your expertise but as you mentioned the low oxygen on Mars I thought I'd ask!

Before the Oxidisation of the Earth's atmosphere how did lack of oxygen affect Volcanic Lava flows? I presume fire wasn't possible so did Lava react to the atmosphere the same way as it does to sea water in forming hard crust pillows or did the lack of oxygen have no effect and it flowed the same?

[kccorliss]

Sulfur is a versatile element that could be used in various ways by humans on Mars. Here are some potential applications:

1. Food production: Sulfur is an essential nutrient for plants, and Mars' soil lacks it. Adding sulfur to the Martian soil could help support plant growth, making it possible to grow food for human consumption.
2. Energy storage: Sulfur has the ability to store energy in the form of sulfuric acid, which could be used as a battery or fuel cell. This could provide a sustainable source of energy for Martian settlements.
3. Water purification: Sulfur can be used to remove impurities from water, making it safe for human consumption. This could be particularly useful on Mars, where water is scarce and purification is crucial.
4. Medical applications: Sulfur has antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it useful for treating infections and wounds. It could also be used to create medical supplies, such as bandages and dressings.
5. Construction materials: Sulfur can be used to create building materials, such as concrete and mortar, which could be used to construct habitats and infrastructure on Mars.
6. Propulsion: Sulfur can be used as a fuel additive to improve the efficiency of propulsion systems, such as rocket engines.
7. Radiation shielding: Sulfur has been shown to have radiation shielding properties, making it a potential material for protecting humans and equipment from harmful radiation on Mars.
8. Bioregenerative systems: Sulfur can be used to create bioregenerative systems, which could recycle air, water, and waste on Mars, making it possible for humans to live sustainably on the planet.

Some potential ways to obtain sulfur on Mars include:

1. Mining: Sulfur deposits could be mined from Martian rocks and soil.
2. Recycling: Sulfur could be recycled from waste materials, such as rocket fuel and other industrial processes.
3. In-situ resource utilization: Sulfur could be extracted from Martian rocks and soil using in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) techniques, which involve processing local resources to create the materials needed for human exploration and settlement.

Overall, sulfur is a versatile element that could play a crucial role in supporting human life on Mars.

[ericfielding]

Thanks for putting together this excellent discussion on the background and importance of the surprising discovery of pure sulfur rocks by Curiosity in a short time. Your last comment about no chance of fire for this brimstone might be a clue to how this sulfur ended up in these rocks. The lack of oxygen in the atmosphere of Mars must affect the chemistry of some rocks at the surface.

[flamencoprof]

04:19 Awesome imaging. I am in my armchair, yet a big budget, plus an excellence of engineering, plus an intellect in imaging (sorry, getting poetic here) have enabled me to see sulphur on Mars in such detail.
I am from New Zealand and appreciate the formations I have seen many times getting a mention.

[rjung_ch]

2:45 Those sulfur crystals sure look amazing. Also, Curiosity must weigh a lot to be able to crush that rock so nicely, but maybe the strength of the rock wasn't strong either, not bonded well.
Thanks for my Sunday fix on all things Mars! 👍💪✌