Perseverance Finds Volcanic 'Skull Hill' on Mars

NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered a distinctive dark, angular rock called 'Skull Hill' in the Witch Hazel Hill region of Jezero Crater on Mars. Analysis indicates that the rock, initially resembling a meteorite, is instead an igneous formation rich in olivine and pyroxene, likely transported from elsewhere. This finding aids efforts to understand Mars' volcanic history and the composition of Jezero Crater's floor, which recent studies show is made up of diverse, iron-rich volcanic rocks. Alongside other missions' evidence of ancient water-driven processes and a once-active carbon cycle, these discoveries help scientists trace Mars' evolution from a potentially habitable world. Ongoing research by Perseverance and other rovers continues to explore whether Mars could have supported microbial life. These results are deepening our understanding of Mars' transition to its current barren state.