Perseverance rover discovers corundum in Mars rocks

NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered tiny grains of corundum within light-colored rock fragments near the rim of Jezero Crater on Mars. Corundum is the mineral precursor to gemstones such as rubies and sapphires. While the grains are not gem-quality, their presence provides critical insights into the planet's geological evolution.

Research led by Ann Ollila of the Los Alamos National Laboratory suggests that these minerals indicate a more violent geological history than previously understood. While Mars was long thought to have a history dominated by steady volcanic activity and water-rock interactions, the discovery of corundum points toward sudden, intense events involving extreme heat and pressure, likely caused by meteoritic impacts.

The rover identified the mineral using its SuperCam instrument, which utilizes laser spectroscopy to analyze the chemical composition of rocks. The corundum-bearing targets appear to be small, pale rocks that were transported from an unknown location, as they are not part of the local fixed bedrock. Scientists are now working to determine the location of the parent outcrop that originally produced these fragments.