Soil on Mars 'is like Hawaii'

Thursday 01 November 2012 08:00 GMT

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Scientists say the Martian soil at NASA's Curiosity Rover's landing site contains minerals similar to that found on Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano.

The finding, released on Tuesday, is the latest step in trying to better understand whether the environment could have been hospitable to microbial life.

Curiosity recently ingested its first soil sample and used one of its instruments to tease out the minerals present. An analysis revealed it contained feldspar and olivine, minerals typically associated with volcanic eruptions.

Curiosity landed near the Martian equator in August on a two-year mission.

Life on Mars, in Utah

Mars rover Curiosity finds evidence of ancient fast-moving streams on surface of red planet

Mars rover Curiosity drills into Martian surface

Scientists claim new data is 'strongest evidence yet' that Mars may have supported life