Overview
- Published Dec. 1 in Communications Earth & Environment, the analysis identifies the Jezero rocks as kaolinite, an aluminum-rich clay.
- On Earth, kaolinite typically forms after millions of years of persistent rain in hot, humid settings, implying locally warm conditions on ancient Mars.
- Perseverance instrument spectra and chemistry matched Earth samples from South Africa and San Diego, indicating similar formation processes.
- Orbital data point to larger kaolinite-bearing outcrops in the region, which no rover has yet reached, leaving provenance and extent unresolved.
- Researchers say dating these deposits could clarify how Mars lost surface water roughly 3–4 billion years ago and refine assessments of past habitability.