NASA's Perseverance rover has made a groundbreaking discovery in Mars' Jezero Crater, revealing a diverse composition of iron-rich volcanic rocks on the crater floor. This finding, detailed in a new study, offers valuable insights into the geological history of Mars and its potential to have supported past life.
The Perseverance rover landed in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021, and has since been exploring the area. Equipped with advanced instruments like the Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL), the rover analyzed the chemical makeup and textures of rocks in the Máaz formation. This analysis identified two distinct types of volcanic rocks: dark-toned rocks rich in iron and magnesium, and lighter-toned trachy-andesite rocks.
Researchers employed thermodynamic modeling to understand the formation processes of these rocks, suggesting mechanisms such as fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation. These processes, common in active volcanic systems on Earth, indicate prolonged volcanic activity on Mars. Such activity could have provided a sustained source of compounds necessary for life. The Mars Sample Return mission aims to bring these samples back to Earth for further analysis.
Since reaching the crater's western rim on December 12, 2024, Perseverance has been exploring a slope called “Witch Hazel Hill,” finding a diverse array of rocks. On March 10, 2025, the rover collected the “Main River” rock sample on “Witch Hazel Hill”. The rover's first crater rim sample, named Silver Mountain, likely dates back at least 3.9 billion years.