Nasa's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit detected the carbonate-rich rocks in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater.

美国航空航天局的火星探险号飞船在古谢夫陨石坑的哥伦比亚山探测到富含碳酸盐的石头。

youdao

"Small amounts of carbonate minerals have been detected on Mars before, " he explained. "[But this time] we're seeing a couple of large outcrops of rock poking through the soil of the Columbia Hills."

他解释说：“以前在火星上也探测到过少量的碳化矿物质，但是这次我们看到许多大块突兀的岩石冒出了哥伦比亚山的泥土。”

youdao

But the researchers remain optimistic that further exploration of Columbia Hills could yield hard evidence of surface water.

CNN: Mars rovers working overtime

Spirit is currently climbing high into the Columbia Hills, which rise above Gusev crater where the spacecraft landed.

CNN: Mars rovers working overtime

After initial study of some so-called basaltic rocks near its landing site, Spirit embarked on a 10-week drive across the crater, more than a mile wide, to reach the Columbia Hills.

CNN: Mars rovers working overtime