NASA’s Perseverance rover is currently investigating the fascinating geological features on the rim of Jezero Crater, which scientists describe as a Martian cornucopia. The rover's exploration of rocky outcrops, boulders, and other geological formations is crucial for understanding the planet’s history, evolution, and potential for past or present habitability. Since its arrival on Mars, Perseverance has cored five rocks from the crater's rim, sealing samples from three distinct locations in sample tubes.
Since January, Perseverance has accelerated its science-collection efforts, marking the fastest pace since its landing over four years ago. The rover has conducted meticulous analyses, examining seven rocks closely and using a laser to assess another 83 from a distance. After spending 3½ months climbing the western wall of Jezero Crater, Perseverance reached the rim on December 12, 2024. It is currently exploring a slope approximately 445 feet (135 meters) tall, affectionately dubbed “Witch Hazel Hill.” The diversity of rocks encountered has exceeded the expectations of the science team.
“During previous scientific campaigns in Jezero, it could take several months to discover a rock that was significantly different from the last one sampled,” stated Katie Stack Morgan, Perseverance’s project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “However, at the crater rim, we find new and intriguing rocks at every turn. It has been all we had hoped for and more.”
The western rim of Jezero Crater is rich in fragmented, once-molten rocks that were ejected from their original subterranean locations billions of years ago due to meteor impacts, potentially including the one that created the crater itself. Perseverance has discovered these ancient boulders alongside well-preserved layered rocks that formed billions of years ago, illustrating the dynamic history of Mars.
Nearby, a boulder exhibiting signs of water alteration is situated next to another that shows minimal interaction with water in its past, showcasing the planet's diverse geological processes.
On January 28, Perseverance collected its first crater-rim rock sample, informally named “Silver Mountain.” This sample originated from “Shallow Bay,” a rock that likely dates back at least 3.9 billion years to the Noachian period, Mars' earliest geological era. The rock may have undergone fragmentation and recrystallization due to ancient meteor impacts.
Approximately 360 feet (110 meters) from this sampling site lies an outcrop that has garnered the team’s attention for its igneous minerals formed from magma deep within the Martian crust. Igneous rocks are known for their ability to preserve geological history through their crystal structures. However, initial coring attempts on February 4 and February 8 were unsuccessful due to the crumbly nature of the rock, prompting the rover to move about 520 feet (160 meters) northwest to another intriguing rock known as “Tablelands.”
Data from Perseverance’s instruments indicate that Tablelands is primarily composed of serpentine minerals, which form when water interacts with iron- and magnesium-bearing minerals in igneous rocks. This process, known as serpentinization, alters the rock's original structure and mineral composition, often resulting in expansion and fracturing. Notably, this process can produce hydrogen gas, which under certain conditions may lead to methane generation. On Earth, such rocks are known to support microbial communities.
The coring of Tablelands was successful, but sealing the sample presented engineering challenges. “This occurred once before when powdered rock obstructed a proper seal,” explained Kyle Kaplan, a robotics engineer at JPL. “For Tablelands, we employed extensive measures. Over 13 sols, we brushed the tube opening 33 times and made eight sealing attempts, even utilizing a flick maneuver.” This maneuver involves the rover's sample-handling arm pressing the tube against an internal wall and then pulling it away to create vibrations that help clear any obstruction. On March 2, these efforts finally allowed Perseverance to seal and store the serpentine-rich rock sample.
Following the successful collection of the Main River sample, the rover proceeded to analyze three more rocky outcrops: “Sally’s Cove,” “Dennis Pond,” and “Mount Pearl.” The science team is far from finished. “The last four months have been a whirlwind for our team, and we believe Witch Hazel Hill still has many secrets to share,” said Stack. “We will utilize all data gathered to determine the next sampling site on the crater rim. Crater rims — there’s always more to discover!”
One of the primary goals of the Perseverance mission is astrobiology, focusing on the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover aims to characterize Mars' geology and past climate, paving the way for future human exploration of the Red Planet. As the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith, Perseverance is part of NASA’s broader Mars Sample Return Program, developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). This ambitious program aims to send spacecraft to Mars to retrieve these sealed samples and return them to Earth for extensive analysis.
The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is a key part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, which aligns with the agency's Moon to Mars exploration strategy, including the Artemis missions designed to prepare for human exploration of Mars. For further details on Perseverance and its groundbreaking mission, visit NASA's official page.
