Scientists with NASA’s Perseverance rover have uncovered a treasure trove of Martian rocks and boulders on the rim of Jezero Crater, providing a unique glimpse into the planet’s history. The rover has spent five months collecting samples from five rocks, sealing three in tubes, and analyzing 83 more using its laser.
The diversity of rocks found at Jezero’s western wall exceeds expectations, with fragments of once-molten rocks knocked out by meteor impacts billions of years ago juxtaposed with well-preserved layered rocks. One sample, “Silver Mountain,” is estimated to be around 3.9 billion years old and may have been broken up during an ancient meteor impact.
The rover has also discovered igneous minerals crystallized from magma deep in the Martian crust, which preserve details about the precise moment they formed. A recently analyzed rock, “Tablelands,” contains almost entirely serpentine minerals, which can lead to the generation of methane in the presence of carbon dioxide.
To seal these samples, engineers employed a “flick maneuver” technique, involving repeated brushings and sealing attempts until success was achieved. The rover has collected three more samples since then, including a rock with alternating bright and dark bands, like nothing seen before.
The Perseverance mission aims to search for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars, characterize the planet’s geology, and pave the way for human exploration. The rover is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program portfolio and has set a record for its fastest science-collection tempo since landing on Mars in 2020.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-2020-perseverance/perseverance-rover/nasas-perseverance-mars-rover-studies-trove-of-rocks-on-crater-rim