A native sulfur deposit in Gale crater, Mars.

Native sulfur deposit in Gale crater indicates a sulfur enrichment pathway involving buoyant subsurface fluids on ancient Mars.

• Why it matters: Understanding sulfur deposits helps reveal Mars' geological and volcanic history, filling gaps about its past environmental conditions and potential habitability.
• What they did: The Curiosity rover examined light-toned stones in Gediz Vallis, discovering they are composed of native sulfur formed in place within a canyon, likely from magmatic vapor.
• The result: This finding suggests that magmatic activity and subsurface fluid processes contributed to sulfur cycling on Mars, offering insights into its geological evolution and volatile history.