Logo image
Back
Corundum Discovered by SuperCam and the Perseverance Rover at Jezero Crater, Mars
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Corundum Discovered by SuperCam and the Perseverance Rover at Jezero Crater, Mars

A. M. Ollila, O. Beyssac, A. Fau, O. Forni, E. Clavé, P. Beck, C. C. Bedford, V. Payre, E. Dehouck, S A Connell, …
Geophysical research letters, Vol.53(16), e2026GL122537
08/28/2026
DOI: 10.1029/2026GL122537
url
https://doi.org/10.1029/2026GL122537View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Mars is primarily composed of mafic mineral assemblages and their alteration products, but small, scattered rocks strewn across the landscape offer clues to greater petrological diversity. While traversing the Jezero crater rim, the Perseverance rover encountered several plagioclase‐rich light‐toned float rocks. SuperCam identified the distinctive signature of corundum (α‐Al 2 O 3 ) in these rocks using time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy. Two strong peaks (692.7 and 694.1 nm) with millisecond lifetimes, and additional supporting lines, are consistent with Cr 3+ substitution for Al 3+ in corundum. Corundum forms in Al‐rich, Si‐depleted environments through magmatic or metamorphic processes. Given the rocks' small size, association with plagioclase, and location on the crater rim, we interpret the most plausible formation scenario to be impact induced metamorphism at the interface of a felsic and a mafic/ultramafic member with the likely action of fluids at some stage, although other possibilities are not excluded. Minerals provide clues to the type of geologic environments in which they form. The primary types of minerals that have been identified on Mars indicate a history dominated by volcanism followed by interaction with water. However, other minerals that tell a different story are sometimes found. Here we present results from the SuperCam instrument on the Perseverance rover in which the mineral corundum (α‐Al 2 O 3 ) has been identified using a technique called time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy. Corundum has a unique light‐emitting (luminescence) feature based on two well‐known peaks as well as the time it takes for this light to fade after being excited by a laser, which is referred to as the lifetime. Corundum forms in specific environments that are enriched in aluminum and depleted in silicon and have been subjected to high temperature and pressure. Such places include deep subsurface magmas or shallower locations that have been exposed to high temperature through tectonic processes or meteorite impacts. Given their small sizes, association with the mineral plagioclase, and locations on the heavily impacted crater rim, we propose that these corundum minerals formed through impact processes. For the first time, corundum (α‐Al 2 O 3 ) has been identified on Mars. It is found within plagioclase‐rich pebbles on the Jezero crater rim Corundum was identified by the presence of distinctive Cr 3+ spectral peaks using time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy Corundum broadens the mineral types found on Mars to include magmatic or metamorphic minerals formed in high Al/low Si environments
 Mars Corundum Perseverance rover supercam Jezero crater

Details

Metrics

1 Record Views
Logo image