Curiosity update: ‘Broken rock’

Sol 869-870, January 14, 2015, update from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: “A mini-drill test on the Mojave rock target completed successfully, but MAHLI images taken after the test showed that the rotary-percussive drilling fractured the rock.  This was not expected, so the tactical team had to quickly change the Sol 869-870 plan. While we were hoping to drill a deeper hole and acquire a sample of the drill cuttings before the upgrade of the software onboard the rover next week, the rock fragments dislodged by the mini-drill activity provided a rare opportunity to examine freshly-broken surfaces.  Field geologists usually carry rock hammers so that…” [More at link]