NASA Rover Finds Corundum on Mars, a First in Jezero Crater
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · Aug 15
NASA Rover Finds Corundum on Mars, a First in Jezero Crater
3 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · Aug 15
Summary
Pale rocks in Jezero Crater contained Corundum after NASA's Perseverance blasted them with its laser in 2025, marking the first detection of the gemstone mineral on Mars.
Corundum is the crystalline material that forms rubies and sapphires on Earth, and scientists also detected a trace of chromium that can give rubies their reddish color.
The find was described as unexpected because researchers did not anticipate anything unusual when Perseverance analyzed the rocks.
The discovery adds a new clue to Jezero Crater's mineral history as Perseverance continues probing Martian rocks for evidence of the planet's past environment.