NASA has discovered that hematite is one of the most abundant minerals in the rocks and soils on the surface of Mars. An abundance of hematite in Martian rocks and surface materials gives the landscape a reddish brown color and is why the planet appears red in the night sky. It is the origin of Mars’ “Red Planet” nickname.
Martian “Blueberries”: In 2004, NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity discovered that soil near its landing site contained millions of tiny spheres that researchers nicknamed “blueberries.” Upon analysis, they were determined to be composed of iron oxide, mostly in the form of hematite. The iron content of Martian rocks and soil contribute to its red appearance from Earth and helped it earn the name “The Red Planet.” Image by NASA.
