Scientists analysing high-resolution geochemical data from the rover identified around 24 different mineral types, revealing that the planet’s surface chemistry evolved over time, much like Earth’s ancient oceans. The findings suggest that Mars transitioned from harsh, acidic conditions to more neutral and eventually alkaline environments — marking multiple wet eras increasingly favourable for life.

Published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets , the study was led by Rice University graduate student Eleanor Moreland. Her team used the Mineral Identification by Stoichiometry (MIST) algorithm to interpret data collected by Perseverance’s Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL). The instrument, which employs X-rays to determine the chemical makeup of Martian ro

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