Knowing which minerals form at different stages of a planet 's evolution , and which depend upon life to be present , are crucial to understanding the mineralogy of other planets and moons .
All three rovers did spectacular science as well , studying the mineralogy and topography of mars in astonishing detail , and establishing beyond a doubt that water once flowed and pooled on the planet 's surface .
The arm will deposit bits of martian soil into the analytical instruments on the rover 's body , which are known as sam ( sample analysis at mars ) and chemin ( short for chemistry & mineralogy ) .
