{"id":596956,"date":"2026-11-10T12:05:48","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T01:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/curiosity-blog-sols-5050-5055-its-nazca-our-49th-drill-hole\/"},"modified":"2026-11-10T12:05:48","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T01:05:48","slug":"curiosity-blog-sols-5050-5055-its-nazca-our-49th-drill-hole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=596956","title":{"rendered":"Curiosity Blog, Sols 5050-5055: It\u2019s Nazca, Our 49th Drill Hole"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex 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href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-science\/programs\/mars-exploration\/#missions\" rel=\"noopener\">More Mars Missions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Mars Home<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\">\n<div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\">\n<p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">3 min read<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">Curiosity Blog, Sols 5050-5055: It\u2019s Nazca, Our 49th Drill Hole<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \" style=\"--hds-image-contain-bg:#ffffff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/msl\/2026\/curiosity-rover-updates\/october\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_msss_05050_mcam_5050MR1101700012601677E01_DXXX.jpg\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"A top-down, close-up view of the textured, dusty Martian bedrock showing a shallow circular impression and pulverized tailings left by a rover&apos;s drill attempt near the center of the frame. (opens in a new tab)\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1328\" height=\"1184\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2026\/curiosity-rover-updates\/october\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_msss_05050_mcam_5050MR1101700012601677E01_DXXX.jpg?w=1328&amp;h=1184&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1328x1184 size-1328x1184\" alt=\"A top-down, close-up view of the textured, dusty Martian bedrock showing a shallow circular impression and pulverized tailings left by a rover&apos;s drill attempt near the center of the frame.\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This image of the Nazca drill hole was taken by Mast Camera (Mastcam) onboard NASA\u2019s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 5050 (2026-10-20 23:56:20 UTC).<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/MSSS<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Written by Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As regular readers of this blog will know, we returned to the area where we found disc shaped inclusions in the rocks, which we interpreted as potential crystals. If they are indeed crystals, and we compare them to Earth, they could be very interesting indicators of the environmental conditions. Hence, the excitement in the team is high that we found a good block to drill. Good means first and foremost that it contains abundant potential crystals, but of course there is more before we drill. We passed the rover\u2019s stability test, as all wheels have to be on solid ground before we extend the arm. Then we passed the preload test, which tests the stability of the rock and the\u00a0forces the arm experiences when the drill bit presses\u00a0into the rock.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With all those tests passed, we successfully drilled our 49th drill hole, called \u201cNazca.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drill campaign comes with many investigations before and after the drilling itself. Before the drill, we investigated the block with APXS, MAHLI and ChemCam \u2013 all on the target Nazca. After drilling, the sample was dropped off to CheMin, with the results still making their way from Mars to Earth. They are eagerly anticipated to reach us over the coming weekend. ChemCam obtained both passive spectral and active LIBS of the tailings and a LIBS measurement down the drill hole wall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other ChemCam activities this week included a LIBS investigation of \u201cPalpala,\u201d which is a dark pebble. We are on the lookout for those pebbles for a while and find that not all of them have the same composition. To make sure we understand their origin, we are measuring them when there are some in reach that are big enough. If a pebble is too small, it can move when it is being hit by the laser. Hence, we need to look out for some that are big enough.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another such pebble was the target \u201cPuna\u201d identified in Friday\u2019s planning. ChemCam LIBS on the target \u201cLlama\u201d is to get another depth profile to check whether our observations in the first such depth profile are consistently observed or whether they vary between locations. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The target \u201cPacaya\u201d is another measurement of the disc shaped forms that drew us back to this region. In addition to the LIBS measurements, ChemCam has several long distance RMIs in the plan. They are all focused on the two buttes that have drawn a long-standing interest of the team for the various sedimentary structures and textures they reveal: Mishe Mokwa and Cordillera.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module alignwide wp-block-nasa-blocks-listicle\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle bg-spacesuit-white maxw-full width-full padding-0 color-mode-light nasa-gb-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-wrapper padding-y-4 padding-x-3\">\n<h2 class=\"hds-listicle-heading\"><\/h2>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 listicle-layout-basic\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 padding-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-text-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"hds-listicle-list-text\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-22\">Want to read more posts from the Curiosity team?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"hds-listicle-list-description\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a 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class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-blogs\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Blogs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\n<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n<h2 style=\"max-width: 100%\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/curiosity-blog-sols-5056-5062-charging-back-up\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/msl\/2026\/curiosity-rover-updates\/october\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_05062_opgs_edr_ncam_NRB_846865643EDR_S1251326NCAM00592M_.JPG\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Curiosity Blog, Sols 5056-5062: Charging Back Up!<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t32 minutes ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/rubies-on-mars\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2026\/perseverance-rover-updates\/Mars_Perseverance_SIF_2023_0846549705_738EBY_N0930000SRLC02503_0000LMJ.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Rubies on Mars?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 hours ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/newest-sample-oldest-rock\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2026\/perseverance-rover-updates\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_2018_0846089083_331EBY_N0920000ZCAM05068_1100LMJ.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Newest Sample, Oldest Rock?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 hours ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Mars<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It\u2019s the only planet we know of inhabited\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1456\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/mars\/resources\/detail_files\/7\/7668_Mars-viking-2-orbiter-global-view-partial-valles-marinares-PIA04304-full2.jpg?w=1536&amp;h=1456&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1456 size-1536x1456\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/resources\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>All Mars Resources<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/mars\/resources\/detail_files\/2\/5\/25757_1-PIA24543-Curiositys-Selfie-at-Mont-Mercou-main-web.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=792&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1200x792 size-1200x792\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-science\/programs\/mars-exploration\/rover-basics\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Rover Basics<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/photojournal\/pia\/pia19\/pia19808\/PIA19808.tif?w=1536\"><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&amp;p=322764\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Mars Exploration: Science Goals<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA\u2019s four\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1536&amp;h=864&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x864 size-1536x864\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 As regular readers of this blog will know, we returned to the area where we found disc shaped inclusions in the rocks, which we interpreted as potential crystals. If they are indeed crystals, and [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15599],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-596956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.5 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Written by Susanne P. 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Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 As regular readers of this blog will know, we returned to the area where we found disc shaped inclusions in the rocks, which we interpreted as potential crystals. If they are indeed crystals, and [\u2026]\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=596956\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-10T01:05:48+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-10T01:05:48+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@VibewireCentral\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Curiosity Blog, Sols 5050-5055: It\u2019s Nazca, Our 49th Drill Hole - VibeWire Magazine\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Written by Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 As regular readers of this blog will know, we returned to the area where we found disc shaped inclusions in the rocks, which we interpreted as potential crystals. 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