Mars’ Hidden Gems: Could the Red Planet Be a Gemologist’s Paradise?
Mars is revealing more secrets with each passing Martian day. Recent observations from the Perseverance rover suggest the presence of ruby-like crystals within Martian rocks, sparking excitement about the potential for other precious minerals – like sapphires – across the planet. These findings, presented at the 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in March 2025, are currently undergoing peer review for publication in Geophysical Research Letters.
Unearthing the Corundum Conundrum
The discovery began with Perseverance’s exploration of the rim of the 4 billion-year-ancient Jezero Crater. The rover encountered several “float rocks” – rocks displaced from their original location by impacts, geological activity, or hydrological processes. A laser analysis, using the rover’s SuperCam, revealed signatures of corundum, a mineral containing aluminum and oxygen, within three of these rocks. Critically, these corundum samples too contained inclusions of chromium, the element that gives rubies their characteristic red hue.
However, researchers caution against definitive claims. The crystals are too tiny to be visually confirmed by Perseverance’s cameras, and their precise chemical composition remains uncertain. The presence of other elements, like iron and titanium, could indicate different varieties of corundum, such as sapphires.
How Martian Gemstones Might Form
On Earth, corundum typically forms through intense heat and pressure associated with plate tectonics. Since there’s no evidence of plate tectonics on Mars, scientists hypothesize that cosmic impacts could be responsible for creating the conditions necessary for corundum formation. These impacts generate both high temperatures and pressures, and can also create hydrothermal fluids.
Beyond Rubies: What Else Could Mars Hold?
The discovery of corundum adds to a growing list of engaging minerals found on Mars. Perseverance has also detected quartz and opal, suggesting ancient water circulation on the Red Planet. Even as the corundum crystals discovered so far are tiny – less than 0.2 millimeters in diameter – the possibility of larger gemstones existing on Mars remains open.
As of now, the corundum crystals were found in small pebbles that are coming from elsewhere, i.e., they are out of context. It’s therefore difficult to constrain the full story,
Valerie Payré, planetary geologist at the University of Iowa
Future Trends: Mars as a Geological Laboratory
The Perseverance rover’s ongoing mission is revolutionizing our understanding of Mars’ geological history. The Mars Sample Return campaign, planned in collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency, aims to bring Martian samples back to Earth for more detailed analysis. This will allow scientists to definitively confirm the presence of rubies and sapphires, and to unravel the mysteries of their formation.
The discovery of these minerals isn’t just about finding pretty rocks. It provides valuable insights into the planet’s past environment, including the presence and duration of liquid water, and the potential for past habitability. Further exploration could reveal even more exotic minerals, potentially unlocking new scientific breakthroughs.
FAQ
- Has ruby been definitively found on Mars? Not yet. While the analysis suggests the presence of corundum with chromium, further analysis of returned samples is needed to confirm the presence of true rubies.
- Could sapphires exist on Mars? Possibly. The presence of other elements like iron and titanium could result in sapphire formation.
- How did these minerals form on Mars? Scientists believe cosmic impacts may have created the necessary heat, and pressure.
- What is corundum? Corundum is a mineral made of aluminum and oxygen, and is one of the hardest known natural substances.
Stay tuned as Perseverance continues its exploration of Jezero Crater, and as scientists prepare for the arrival of Martian samples on Earth. The Red Planet may yet reveal even more of its hidden treasures.
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