[Rockhounds] NASA Rover Encounters Spectacular Metal Meteorite on Mars

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

MSL Curiosity is going about its business exploring Mars
<https://www.sciencealert.com/mars>. The high-tech rover is currently
exploring the sulphate-bearing unit on Mt. Sharp, the central peak in Mars'
Gale Crater. Serendipity placed a metal meteorite in its path.

The meteorite is made mostly of nickel and iron, and it has a name: Cacao.
(Chocolate comes from cacao <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacao>.) Cacao
isn't very large; it's only about 30 cm (1 ft.) across.

Curiosity has come across several meteorites since landing in Gale Crater
in August 2012.

Cacao stands out visually from its surroundings. While the Martian surface
is red from oxides, the meteorite is dark grey and metallic-looking. It's
also smooth and rounded, obvious signs that it passed through an atmosphere.

https://www.sciencealert.com/nasa-rover-encounters-spectacular-metal-meteorite-on-mars