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Pay dirt In May 2007, Spirit churned up pay dirt as she dragged her broken wheel in an area
around Home Plate. When Steve Ruff had the robot check it out with the mineral
detecting Mini-TES and the scientists reviewed her data, it turned out to be near pure
opaline silica. This unexpected discovery of concentrated silica deposits and Ruff’s
subsequent research indicate that there were once hot springs or steam vents at Home
Plate site, which could have provided favorable conditions for microbial life. “It was one
of the most important findings by either rover,” Squyres said. NASA / JPL-Caltech / Cornell / ASU