The scientific world is stirred by new data from the Red Planet. NASA’s Perseverance rover, which is exploring the rim of Jezero Crater, has discovered a series of mysterious dark rocks that may shed light on the geologic and climatic history of Mars. These rocks, unlike the surrounding light-colored formations, have an unusual pitted texture, and they were probably transported from other regions billions of years ago.
Following the traces of ancient rivers
The Port Anson region, where the sites are located, may once have been the shore of an ancient lake. The dark rocks, dubbed Skull Hill, belong to rocks that water millions of years ago may have carried long distances. Scientists hypothesize that after the reservoirs dried up, the soft soils eroded, leaving harder formations on the surface.
“These rocks are like time capsules. We are trying to understand their origin and why they are here,” the mission’s blog explains. A study by the SuperCam instrument showed: the composition of the rocks does not resemble meteoric rocks, which rules out their cosmic origin. Instead, their dark color may indicate past volcanic activity — similar to Earth’s olivine — or pyroxene-rich basalts.
The unusual texture of the rocks remains a major mystery. One theory attributes the pits to the action of Martian winds that sanded the surface with dust and sand over millions of years. Another scenario is the destruction of soft inclusions within the rock by water.
Record pace of research
In recent months, Perseverance has set a new record by collecting 5 samples, analyzing 7 rocks, and “firing” a laser at 83 targets to study their composition. This activity is made possible by the richness of geologic forms on the slope of Witch Hazel Hill, where every step opens up new objects to explore.
“It’s like a geology fair! We’re getting data that exceeds expectations,” admits JPL scientist Kathy Morgan.
The main goal of the mission is to bring Martian rocks back to Earth to search for signs of life. However, the ambitious sample return project has faced difficult technical and financial obstacles so far. Despite this, scientists believe that each new sample from Jezero is a chance to unlock the most important mystery of the Red Planet — did life exist there?
We previously reported on how Perseverance spotted ominous signs of an impending cataclysm on Mars.
According to science.nasa.gov
