NASA’s Perseverance rover has stumbled upon a new mystery on Mars.

After examining an area called “Bright Angel” and sampling unique “leopard spots”, the rover headed south through the Neretva Vallis and discovered a remarkable area known as the “Serpentine Rapids”. “. Here, Perseverance encountered glowing red rocks, an unexpected discovery that deepened the rover team’s intrigue.

At Serpentine Rapids, Perseverance used an abrasive tool on a red rock outcropping named “Wallace Butte,” creating a 2-inch-diameter area that revealed a stunning spectrum of colors: white, black and a distinctive dull green.

This green coloration was particularly fascinating, revealing dark cores surrounded by light green edges. On Earth, similar green spots are often seen in ancient “red beds” and are usually formed by chemical reactions in which water, carrying iron, seeps through rock layers and reduces oxidized iron has a green tint.

This color change can occur through natural reactions, and on Earth it sometimes involves microbes or decaying organic matter.

While green dots on Earth may indicate biological or chemical processes, their origin on Mars remains unknown. The rover’s SHERLOC and PIXL instruments, designed for detailed compositional analysis, could not be precisely positioned atop the green dots due to terrain limitations.

As a result, the exact composition of green matter remains a mystery, sparking the curiosity of scientists eager to unlock the secrets of Mars.

As Perseverance continues its climb up the steep rim of Jezero Crater, the science team eagerly anticipates what other surprises might await.

Two years into its mission, Perseverance has transformed scientific understanding of the geology of Mars, particularly in Jezero Crater, which is believed to contain traces of ancient water.