Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
NASA announced that its Perseverance rover, exploring Mars' Jezero crater, discovered a unique light-toned boulder, marking the first of its kind on the Martian surface.
The rover, which landed on Mars in 2021, found the boulder while traversing the Neretva Vallis, a dried river delta that once flowed into the Jezero crater billions of years ago.
Perseverance changed its route to avoid rough terrain and took a shortcut through a dune field, eventually reaching a hill named Mount Washburn, where the boulder was discovered.
NASA described the hill as being covered with boulders of a type never observed on Mars before. One particular small boulder, about 18 inches across and 14 inches tall, stood out due to its light tone and speckled appearance.
Credit : NASA
Nicknamed Atoko Point, the boulder was found to be composed of minerals pyroxene and feldspar. This combination, along with its unique arrangement, set it apart from other known Martian sediment.
Credit : NASA
Some scientists believe the minerals in Atoko Point may have come from magma beneath Mars' surface, exposed over time through erosion. Others suggest the boulder might have been transported by an ancient river to its current location.
These minerals, also found in Earth's crust and on the moon, could offer insights into Mars' geological history and processes.
The discovery occurred during Perseverance's fourth campaign on Mars, which focuses on finding carbonate and olivine deposits in the Jezero crater. These minerals are significant for their potential to encapsulate ancient remnants and provide clues about Mars' past climate.
Understanding the makeup of Mars and its history could help scientists determine if the planet could ever be habitable for humans and provide important insights into the origins and evolution of life on Earth.