NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover has photographed a small metallic meteorite on the Red Planet, sparking hopes of nickel deposits. Dubbed the 'Egg Rock', the object was captured on October 31 and is believed to be composed of nickel iron, according to researchers.
The smooth surface and deep grooves of the meteorite suggest it may have melted upon entering Mars' atmosphere before solidifying again. Mars, being close to an asteroid belt, frequently experiences meteorite impacts.
This is not the first iron meteorite found by Curiosity. Two years ago, the rover discovered a larger specimen named Lebanon, which measured 2 metres wide. The 'Egg Rock' is significantly smaller in comparison.
Earlier in September, Curiosity also photographed a snake-shaped object on Mars, which sparked speculation among conspiracy theorists about possible alien life. However, NASA has not confirmed any such claims.
