A new discovery in Jezero Crater.
Since arriving at a portion of the ancient delta in early spring, the Perseverance rover has been examining rocks. With the help of its rock-vaporizing laser and ground-penetrating radar, the science team has found that the crater’s floor is made up of volcanic rock, or igneous rock.
This area of Jezero Crater has been of particular interest to the rover’s science team because sedimentary rocks often form in watery environments suitable for life, and some are known to preserve signs of ancient microscopic life.
But determining the age of sedimentary rocks can be challenging, particularly when they contain fragments that formed at different times before sediment was deposited. In contrast, volcanic rocks are excellent timekeepers because crystals within them record details about the precise moment they formed. This can help the science team better determine when water was present in Jezero Crater.
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