NASA Mars Rover Finds Volcano Hiding 'In Plain Sight' — and It Could Rewrite The Planet's Geology
The identity of Jezero Mons on Mars is no longer a mystery. First observed back in 2007, the elevated structure on Jezero Crater was quickly recognized as a mountain, but whether it was a volcano or not became a topic of debate amongst scientists, according to USGS. The query has finally been resolved due to observations from several Mars spacecraft. Findings regarding this resolution have been published in the journal Communication Earth & Environment.
Based on observations collected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, Mars Odyssey Orbiter, and Perseverance Rover, the study claimed that Jezero Mons is indeed a composite volcano. Planetary scientist James Wray from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta considers the identification of a volcano on Mars crucial, as it helps experts determine the planet's habitability, as well as figure out its geological history. Furthermore, if a volcano can be detected as recently as 2007 at Jezero Crater, then it could mean that there could be several other undiscovered volcanoes on the expansive surface of the Red Planet.
The dormant volcano was detected on the south-eastern rim of Jezero crater, according to New Scientist. The volcano was detected to be around 21 kilometers wide and two kilometers tall. It is similar size to that of volcanic mountains found on Earth. Researchers observed the craters near the newfound volcano and estimated that it must have last erupted around one billion years ago. The study claims that the eruption caused ash, rocks, and lava to push out far and wide on the Jezero crater, possibly even at the landing site of the Perseverance Rover.
The best way to detect whether Jezero Mons is a volcano or not would be to analyze samples from it. Currently, it is not possible as the alleged samples from this volcano can only arrive through the Mars Sample Return mission, scheduled to return to Earth in the 2030s. Researchers made their assertion based on images sent back by Mars orbiters, showing fine-grained material on Jezero Mons. It typically happens when ash gets released by a volcano. Wray believes that this observation indicates that Jezero Mons is an igneous dormant volcano powered by magma underneath the surface. “It’s the strongest case we can make without actually walking across it,” he added.
Perseverance Rover landed on the Jezero crater in 2021, and since then, it has been making its way to the crater's western rim. It has not reached Jezero Mons, and at present, there are no plans for it to go there. However, the Rover has collected samples from the crater that appear to have been released by the volcano. Some objects also seem to exhibit signs of lava flows. Considering the speculation that the last eruption threw off volcanic materials across the crater, it is possible that these samples came from Jezero Mons.
If these samples arrive on Earth, per the plans, then scientists would possibly be able to detect exactly when the volcano was active on Mars. It would be the first time volcanic activity on another planet would be examined in such a way. Also, it would help experts shed light on how the planet's interior was evolving during that time. Another interpretation from the readings claimed that the Jezero crater was once a lake, per Science Alert. If Jezero Mons was indeed a volcano, then there is a possibility that the volcano aided the lake to exhibit conditions that could have supported life. "The coalescence of these two types of systems makes Jezero more interesting than ever," Wray said. "We have samples of incredible sedimentary rocks that could be from a habitable region alongside igneous rocks with important scientific value."