Curiosity update: Nodules!

Sol 1277, March 9, 2016, update from USGS scientist Ryan Anderson: Our drive yesterday was a success, putting us right on the contact between the “Murray” and “Stimson” units, and in reach of some very interesting nodules. The plan today is mostly focused on studying those nodules. ChemCam has an observation of a nodule and neighboring bedrock at the target “Vogelfederberg” followed by a “depth profile” on one of the nodules named “Verbrandeberg”. For the depth profile, we will only analyze two locations on the target, but we will shoot each location with the laser 150 times instead of the normal 30 shots. These extra shots allow us to measure changes in the chemistry in the outer surface of the target. After the depth profile, ChemCam will analyze two other nodule and bedrock locations named “Maieberg” and “Mikberg”. Mastcam will take documentation images of all…. [More at link]