Río Tinto: The River NASA Studies to Understand Mars
Andalusia, Spain
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Río Tinto
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300
XP
+100 Spain
= 400 total
1 day
Río Tinto: The River NASA Studies to Understand Mars
300 + 100 XP
The Tinto runs deep red with a pH between 1.7 and 2.7 and a heavy load of iron, copper, cadmium and manganese — the product of weathering pyrite and chalcopyrite in the ore bodies along it. Nothing should live in that, and yet it is full of acidophile micro-organisms, prokaryote and eukaryote both, including fungi and algae endemic to the river, which feed on minerals alone. NASA picked it as a habitat to study for its possible resemblance to conditions on Mars. Above it sits Corta Atalaya, once the largest open-cast mine in Europe.
Required Activities
1
of 6
Stand at the water and look at a river with a pH of under 3 that is full of life
2
of 6
Work out what lives in it — acidophile organisms that eat minerals, some of them endemic to this river
3
of 6
Find out why NASA studies this valley and what it has to do with Mars
4
of 6
Look into Corta Atalaya, at one time the largest open-cast mine in Europe
5
of 6
Ride the restored Riotinto mining railway, built by the Rio Tinto Company Limited to get ore to Huelva
6
of 6
Find the English quarter the British company built for its managers and engineers from 1873 onwards
Stand at the water and look at a river with a pH of under 3 that is full of life
Work out what lives in it — acidophile organisms that eat minerals, some of them endemic to this river
Find out why NASA studies this valley and what it has to do with Mars
Look into Corta Atalaya, at one time the largest open-cast mine in Europe
Ride the restored Riotinto mining railway, built by the Rio Tinto Company Limited to get ore to Huelva
Find the English quarter the British company built for its managers and engineers from 1873 onwards
Before you go
Do not touch or enter the water — it is strongly acidic and carries heavy metals. Old mine workings are unstable; stay on marked routes.
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XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
400 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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