NASA’s Perseverance rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars, uncovering tiny, perfectly round spherules with a volcanic or impact origin. The findings are significant, as they offer insights into the planet’s dynamic history and may shed light on its fiery past.
The spherules, which were spotted in an area informally known as “Witch Hazel Hill,” have been identified through close-up study by Perseverance using instruments like SHERLOC and PIXL. The analysis revealed a basaltic composition, indicating that they likely formed during a meteoroid impact or volcanic eruption.
Unlike the hematite “blueberries” discovered years ago, these new spherules are thought to have been created when molten rock was melted by a meteoroid’s intense heat, sending droplets of lava into the air. Alternatively, they may have formed from the rapid cooling of magma during a volcanic eruption.
The discovery is a rare occurrence for a rover, and scientists are eager to understand more about Mars’ dynamic history. By studying these spherules, researchers hope to gain insights into the composition of meteoroids, the importance of impact cratering in early Mars’ history, and past volcanism in the region around Jezero crater.
The findings also challenge previous assumptions about hematite’s formation on Mars, with new evidence suggesting that it forms through dehydration processes rather than water. Despite this, the presence of hematite is still considered a significant indicator of Mars’ watery past.
This discovery showcases Perseverance’s capabilities and its role in unraveling the mysteries of our neighboring planet.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/nasa-just-found-perfect-spheres-on-mars-and-no-one-knows-exactly-why