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NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers Ruby-like Crystals on Mars

3/31/2026

Summary

Story summary

NASA's Perseverance rover found crystals on Mars with a rubies-like chemical signature, identified as corundum with chromium impurities by SuperCam.
The findings were presented at the 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
The crystals lie in a 4 billion-year-old impact crater, suggesting formation from cosmic impacts because Mars lacks plate tectonics.
The results are pending further chemical tests and under peer review for Geophysical Research Letters.

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Story summary

NASA's Perseverance rover found crystals on Mars with a rubies-like chemical signature, identified as corundum with chromium impurities by SuperCam.
The findings were presented at the 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
The crystals lie in a 4 billion-year-old impact crater, suggesting formation from cosmic impacts because Mars lacks plate tectonics.
The results are pending further chemical tests and under peer review for Geophysical Research Letters.