NASA’s Perseverance rover obtained crucial clues to the planet’s past by analyzing strange rocks on the surface of Mars using a laser.

It has been reported that NASA’s Perseverance rover acquired significant hints about Mars’ history by analyzing peculiar rocks on the planet’s surface using a laser.

The light-colored rocks discovered in Mars’ Jezero Crater contain minerals that could have formed under very hot and humid conditions. This indicates that the planet could be a much different place than previously thought. Roger Wiens, a planetary scientist from Purdue University in the United States, stated that such minerals are known to form in climates with heavy rainfall or hydrothermal systems like geysers.

Wiens explained that these minerals are created through the prolonged exposure of rocks to flowing water, where hot water dissolves all elements over time and leaves behind only the most resistant ones. He expressed astonishment at making such a discovery on a cold and dry planet like Mars. NASA’s Perseverance rover examined the light-colored rocks found in Jezero Crater, which appeared inconsistent with their surroundings.

These rocks are called ‘surface rocks’ because they were transported to the region later. Researchers tasked Perseverance with examining these rocks using a technology called ‘Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.’ This technique analyzes the rocks by firing a laser at them.

The laser vaporizes a small portion of the mineral, stimulating its atoms and ions. Subsequently, a spectroscope device studies the emitted light to determine the mineral’s composition. The results surprised scientists. Wiens stated that the discovery was unexpected, saying, “These rocks look unlike anything we’ve seen on Mars before.” Analysis revealed that the rocks mainly consist of a soft, white-colored silicate clay mineral called ‘kaolinite.’ The kaolinite found on Mars was tougher than that on Earth.

Researchers believe this is due to different erosion conditions on Mars. Additionally, traces of another mineral called ‘spinel’ were found in the rocks. Spinel is known on Earth as a valuable gemstone containing magnesium and aluminum.

However, how kaolinite rocks formed on Mars remains unknown. Scientists hypothesize that this mineral may be a type rich in aluminum that could be formed through both volcanic and metamorphic processes.