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Scientists at NASA are intrigued by an unusual rock formation recently discovered on Mars, with researchers still working to determine its origins.
NASA announced on March 23 that the Perseverance rover had encountered a “peculiar” formation while conducting analysis in the lower section of Witch Hazel Hill within the Jezero crater rim on the Martian surface.
According to information released by NASA, the Perseverance rover discovered “an extraordinary rock formation consisting of hundreds of millimeter-sized spherical structures.” The scientific team has designated this formation as “St Paul’s Bay” and continues to study its composition.
The official statement describes the rock as being “composed of numerous dark gray spheres measuring approximately one millimeter in diameter,” noting that “some appeared as elongated, elliptical forms, while others exhibited angular edges, potentially representing fragmented spherules.”
NASA researchers posed the question: “Some of these spheres even contained tiny perforations! What geological process could generate such distinctive formations?”
Further complicating the discovery, the specimen isn’t merely a collection of spherical structures but also classified as a “float rock.”
In geological terminology, a “float rock” refers to “a specimen that has been displaced from its original location.”
NASA scientists are currently investigating how this rock relates to the broader geological context of Witch Hazel Hill on Mars.
“Preliminary examinations suggest potential connections to one of the darker-toned strata previously identified through orbital imaging,” the statement indicates, though researchers continue their analysis to develop a more comprehensive explanation.
The release further emphasizes: “Establishing the geological context for these features is essential to determine their origin and understand their significance in relation to the geological history of the Jezero crater rim and surrounding areas!”
This discovery follows a pattern of puzzling spherical formations that NASA has encountered on the Martian surface.
In July 2024, Perseverance located a rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” – a triangular formation measuring 3.2 feet by two feet with distinctive colored markings that typically suggest evidence of ancient biological activity. The discoloration patterns, combined with the rock’s configuration and location, indicated possible water interaction.
Earlier in February, Perseverance also uncovered what NASA described as an “exceptional discovery” at Blue Hill.
The geological formations at Blue Hill hold “significant scientific value” due to their “high concentration of low-calcium pyroxene (LCP).”
“This represents our first sample from Noachian-era outcrop, a significant achievement in our ongoing mission to decode the geological development of Jezero Crater,” NASA stated when announcing the finding.