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20170033_0054

© Cyril FRESILLON/CBM/CNRS Images

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20170033_0054

Sable volcanique découvert sur le volcan de l’Hekla en Islande

Volcanic sand discovered on the Hekla volcano in Iceland. This sand, of modern origin, is similar to a rock of Martian origin. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The collection contains volcanic and sedimentary rocks prepared in several forms: complete rocks, thin slices or rock powders.

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