Nasa blames a rolling stone: Space agency claims to have solved the mystery of the 'jelly doughnut' on Mars

Nasa has solved the mystery of a 'jelly doughnut' rock that appeared on the Martian surface - and says it was just a rolling stone.

The white-rimmed, red-centered rock caused a stir last month when it appeared in an image the rover took on January 8th.

More recent images show the original piece of rock struck by the rover's wheel, slightly uphill from where Pinnacle Island, the name Nasa gave the rock, came to rest.

+4

An strange rock, seen here on the left image, mysteriously appeared in front of Opportunity rover in the beginning of the month. An American writer claims it 'grew' there and is demanding Nasa investigate further

A MARTIAN OPPORTUNITY

Opportunity landed on Mars in 2004 in what was to be a three-month mission. 

Instead the rover has lived beyond its prime mission and roved the planet for nearly 10 years.  

The rover is currently at 'Solander Point' at the rim of Endeavour Crater on Mars. 

The rover hasn't moved in over a month as it waits for better weather on the red planet.

During its time on Mars, the rover has identified rock laden with what scientists believed to be clay minerals.

Their presence is an indication that the rock has been altered at some point in the past through prolonged contact with water.

'Once we moved Opportunity a short distance, after inspecting Pinnacle Island, we could see directly uphill an overturned rock that has the same unusual appearance,' said Opportunity Deputy Principal Investigator Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis. 

'We drove over it. 

'We can see the track. 

'That's where Pinnacle Island came from.'

Examination of Pinnacle Island revealed high levels of elements such as manganese and sulfur, suggesting these water-soluble ingredients were concentrated in the rock by the action of water, the team said.

'This may have happened just beneath the surface relatively recently,' Arvidson said, 'or it may have happened deeper below ground longer ago and then, by serendipity, erosion stripped away material above it and made it accessible to our wheels.'

Now that the rover is finished inspecting this rock, the team plans to drive Opportunity south and uphill to investigate exposed rock layers on the slope.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2559736/Nasa-solves-mystery-jelly-doughnut-Mars-says-rolling-stone.html#ixzz2tNd01S1R
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook