Perseverance rover may hold secrets to newly discovered Mars volcano

A recent discovery suggests the presence of a dormant volcano near the rim of Jezero crater on Mars, a site currently being explored by NASA’s Perseverance rover. This volcano, named Jezero Mons, is believed to have been inactive for billions of years, potentially providing valuable insights into the geological history of the Red Planet.

Since its landing in Jezero crater in 2021, the Perseverance rover has been traversing the Martian terrain, collecting samples that were intended to be brought back to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return mission. Recent findings by James Wray and his team at the Georgia Institute of Technology have identified Jezero Mons as a possible source of volcanic material that may have been sampled by the rover.

High-resolution images from Mars orbiters have revealed fine-grained material on the mountain, consistent with volcanic ash, indicating past volcanic activity. The size and shape of Jezero Mons, measuring 21 kilometers wide and two kilometers tall, resemble volcanic structures found on Earth.

By analyzing the craters near the volcano, researchers estimate that Jezero Mons could have erupted as recently as 1 billion years ago, potentially depositing volcanic remnants in Jezero crater, including the vicinity of Perseverance’s landing site.

If the rover has indeed collected samples from the volcano, scientists would have a unique opportunity to date the volcanic activity on Mars accurately, providing valuable insights into the planet’s past geological processes.

Briony Horgan, a member of the rover’s science team at Purdue University, highlights the significance of this discovery in understanding Mars’ evolution over time. The ability to determine the timing of volcanic eruptions on another planet could offer crucial information about its internal dynamics.

While the prospect of driving Perseverance to the volcano for further exploration is intriguing, current mission priorities steer the rover in a different direction. Wray acknowledges the allure of investigating Jezero Mons up close but recognizes the importance of exploring other geological features outside the crater.