NASA scientists have discovered pure sulfur on Mars for the first time, found by the Curiosity rover when it drove over a rock in the Gediz Vallis channel.

This unexpected finding is notable because while sulfur-containing minerals have been observed on Mars, pure sulfur has not.

The discovery, made on May 30, is significant because the conditions needed to form elemental sulfur are not known to match the area’s history, Engadget has reported.

Curiosity’s Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer confirmed the presence of elemental sulfur, marking an exciting development in planetary exploration.

Written by B.C. Begley