WASHINGTON: The geology of the gaping crater, which scientists believe may have once supported microbial life billions of years ago, is being revealed by core samples taken from the Martian surface by NASA’s Perseverance rover.
These samples also include surprises regarding the type of rock that is found there.The samples from four spots inside Jezero crater revealed that the rock is igneous, or created by the cooling of molten material. They were collected by the car-sized, six-wheeled robotic rover and kept for later delivery to Earth for more research.
Another indication that warm, wet Mars once existed on the cold, dry planet Mars is the presence of evidence of modification in the rocks from exposure to water.The estimated 3.5 billion-year-old rock was initially assumed by the scientists to be sedimentary in origin.
