Mars Rover accidentally ran over a rock and broke it open — revealing mysterious yellow crystals inside More life-related ...

A rock on Mars spilled a surprising yellow treasure after Curiosity accidentally cracked through its unremarkable exterior.

Scientists nicknamed the 5-inch sample of yellow sulfur crystals "Convict Lake" after a lake in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, according to NASA. Curiosity snapped photos of the piece of ...

NASA scientists say pure sulfur has been found on Mars for the first time after the Curiosity rover inadvertently uncovered a cluster of yellow crystals when it drove over a rock.

The sulfur crystals, as seen on May 30, are elemental sulfur, or pure sulfur. Curiosity determined what the crystals were made of. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS ...

Pure sulfur only forms under certain conditions on Earth, such as volcanic processes or in hot or cold springs. Depending on the process, different minerals are created at the same time as the sulfur.

Curiosity, NASA's Mars rover, accidentally cracked open a seemingly ordinary rock, revealing an unexpected yellow substance ...

Yellow sulfur crystals captured by a camera onboard the Curiosity Rover. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS. NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover ran over a rock, which cracked open to reveal pure sulfur crystals.

NASA's Curiosity rover accidentally and unexpectedly discovered pure sulfur hiding in plain sight, blending in with the Red Planet's surface. Tuesday, Jul 08, 2025. New Delhi o C.

Pure sulfur, on the other hand, only forms under a very narrow set of conditions, which are not known to have occurred in the region of Mars where Curiosity made its discovery.

Pure sulfur only forms under certain conditions on Earth, such as volcanic processes or in hot or cold springs. Depending on the process, different minerals are created at the same time as the sulfur.

Pure sulfur, on the other hand, only forms under a very narrow set of conditions, which are not known to have occurred in the region of Mars where Curiosity made its discovery.