Curiosity rover discovered pure elemental sulfur on Mars in May when it accidentally cracked open a rock, revealing yellow sulfur crystals.

While sulfates are common on Mars, this is the first time sulfur has been found in its pure form.

The discovery was made in the Gediz Vallis Channel, where similar rocks suggest that elemental sulfur could be abundant in certain areas, Science Alert has reported.

This finding is significant because sulfur forms under specific conditions, which are not fully understood in the region, prompting further investigation into Mars’s geological history and the potential for life-related processes.

Written by B.C. Begley