The Shark.
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Image from: JPL/NASA

The Shark

The slanted rock shown here was named The Shark. The Shark, Half Dome, and Moe are rocks which, because of their slant, seemed to indicate that a heavy flow took place at one time in the area, and deposited a host of boulders. The Shark was a bright rock. X-ray spectra of the Shark indicated that it also may be a special kind of basaltic (igneous) rock called an andesite.

Examination of the Shark contributed to the overall results of the Mars Pathfinder mission by providing evidence that there may have once been flowing water. Other evidence of the past existence of flowing water came in the form of rounded pebbles, and conglomerates. These bits of evidence helped scientists pinpoint the possible origin of the rocks.


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