Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to looks like it's been there for awhile.

It's just an iron-nickel meteorite

Did you notice there appears to be some shiney metal on the meteorite? One can only guess how long it's been sitting their, e.g. 2 years or 2 million years. On Earth, that meteorite would be reduced to rust in a few thousand years.

It's good to know that future Mars colonists won't have to smelt iron ore. They can forge metal parts and tools straight from iron-nickel meteorites. No need to use primer or plating afterwards. Bare metal does not rust on Mars.

Gary

p.s. iron-nickel meteorites are cheap to own. I have a nice one that I always carry around in my pocket to fidget with. It cost me about $35. It's cool having an 3 billion year old, interplanetary fidget rock (nuclear ash from an ancient supernova).

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