I-NASA's Curiosity rover isineminyaka engaphezu kweshumi ihlola i-Gale Crater ku-Mars, iphenya indawo yechibi langaphambili elalikhona ezinsukwini zokuqala zeplanethi. Ucwaningo lwakamuva lwezithombe eziphuma ku-Curiosity, ezindala nezintsha, ziveze ukuthi indawo engaphansi kwechibi inamanzi anele angaphansi komhlaba ukwakha itshe eliyigugu le-opal eliyigugu.
Ukutholwa kwamatshe ayigugu e-opal ku-Mars kunemithelela ebalulekile ekusesheni ukuphila kule planethi ebomvu. Ama-opals akhiwa isixazululo se-silica namanzi, okusho ukuthi uma amanzi anele ahlala ezingxenyeni eziqhekekile zamadwala ukuze enze ama-opals, impilo nayo yayingaqhubeka lapho. Ukuba khona kwe-opal kuwuphawu lokuthi kukhona amanzi ku-Mars, ayigugu kakhulu kunama-opals ngokwawo.
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Ukuqoshwa kwe-Blue Opal: Ukuqoshwa kwe-Boulder Opal yeNhlanzi Yokuzingela Ibhere$345.00
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I-Spencer Idaho Opal - Hlola Ubuhle Obuhle Baleli Litshe Eliyigugu Eliyingqayizivele | I-Spencer Opal yobucwebe nokuqoqa.$88.00
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Umkhiqizo othengisiwe37ct Boulder Opal in Matrix - Koroit Opal - Australian Opal CabochonIntengo yoqobo yayiyi: $185.00.$125.00Intengo yamanje: $125.00.
I-Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter ithole ukusikisela kokuqala kwamatshe ayigugu e-opal ku-Mars ngo-2008, kodwa lokhu kutholwa kusenesikhathi akuzange kuveze izinga lokuhlushwa “lamaminerali afana ne-opal” akhona ku-Mars. I-Curiosity rover, nokho, inikeze ukubuka okusondele kakhulu kwesici esibizwa ngokuthi i-fracture halo, indawo yezinto ezinombala okhanyayo ezungeze ukuphuka endaweni yedwala. Umbala okhanyayo we-halo wukukhanya kwe-opal.
Ukubuka okuvela kuma-halos okuphuka kubonise ukuthi lokhu kuphuka kwakusakazeke yonke indawo emhlabeni, futhi ukuphuka komhlaba ongaphansi komhlaba okuzungezwe ama-halos kungabonakala kusetshenziswa ithuluzi le-Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN). Ukufundwa kwe-DAN kwabonisa ukuthi amanye ama-neutron atholiwe ehliswe ijubane ngokuhlangana nama-athomu e-hydrogen, okuwuphawu olubonisa ukuba khona kwamanzi.
Amatshe ayigugu e-Opal akhiwa emithonjeni eshisayo or olwandle eMhlabeni. Ku-Mars, indawo evulekile inobutha nempilo ngenxa yemisebe ekhahlela i-neutron etholwe yi-DAN. Nokho, ngisho nebanga elincane elingaphansi komhlaba, njengalapho kuqhekeka idwala, izimo bezingaba ngcono kakhulu. Ukuphila kungenzeka kwaphikelela lapho ukube kusasele amanzi anele ezingxenyeni eziphukile ukuze akhe ama- opal.
Ukuba khona kwe-opal ku-Mars kunganikeza isibusiso semishini yesikhathi esizayo. Nakuba i-opal ngokobuchwepheshe ingeyona iminerali, futhi ayinayo eqinile isakhiwo sekristalu, amanye amanzi akuwo angatholwa ngokucutshungulwa okufanele. Abacwaningi balinganisela ukuthi imitha yesikwele esisodwa se-halo material ephukile, efika phansi ekujuleni kwemitha eyodwa, ingaba negalani nengxenye yamanzi alulalekayo.
Izifunda ezishisayo zase-Mars kakade zaziwa ngokuthi zicebile ngeqhwa lamanzi, futhi uma amanzi angaphansi komhlaba atholakalayo etholakala kabanzi ezindaweni ezihlala inkabazwe ye-Mars, kungaba usizo kosomkhathi ngesikhathi sohambo lwesikhathi eside oluzayo oluya ku-Mars. Ilukuluku lisahlola i-Gale Crater, futhi enye i-NASA Mars rover, i-Perseverance, okwamanje iphenya i-Jezero Crater, enye indawo echibini lasendulo, nomsebenzi manje olungiswayo ukuze kubhekwe izimpawu zokuphuka kwama-halos nama-opals.