Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Is Investigating a Mysterious Dark Stone of “Uncertain” Origin
The Debrief ^ | April 18, 2025 | Micah Hanks

Posted on 04/18/2025 12:31:22 PM PDT by Red Badger

NASA’s Perseverance rover has made a mysterious discovery during its exploration of Jezero Crater: a dark-colored stone with unusual features that “may have originated from elsewhere.”

The unexpected discovery, which the Perseverance team has dubbed “Skull Hill,” was made last week while the intrepid rover continued its descent down the lower part of Witch Hazel Hill along the crater’s rim.

At one point, the rover stopped at the boundary between a pair of distinct rock outcrops of contrasting coloration that were first revealed in orbital imagery of the crater. The intriguing location, which the Perseverance team had nicknamed “Port Anson,” appears to be a geological “contact” area featuring several intriguing angular rocks, some of which are believed to have originated someplace other than their current resting place.

Such “float” rocks, as scientists call these out-of-place stones, are not uncommon on the Red Planet. However, even in an area rich with such features, Skull Hill stands out as a curious sample of stone that has left NASA’s scientific team with many questions.

A Closer Look at “Skull Hill”

A dark-toned rock formation possessing a rugged, angular surface and several unusual pit-like markings, Skull Hill was discovered on April 11 by the rover’s Mastcam-Z instrument. The curious looking stone contrasts sharply against the lighter terrain surrounding it, primarily due to its chalky grey color and unusual pits, which the Perseverance team believes are likely the result of wind erosion over long periods.

The unusual stone dubbed “Skull Hill,” which was discovered by NASA’s Perseverance rover on April 11, 2025 (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU)

*************************************************************************************

Another reason for the rock’s strange, pitted appearance could involve the presence of clasts that were once embedded in it, which weathered away over time. Although Skull Hill is certainly an outlier among the local surrounding Martian rock samples, similar dark-colored float rocks have been discovered in the Port Anson area in the past.

Ongoing investigation into these unusual stones could help to determine not only their origins, but also the transport mechanisms behind their movement from their original location on the Red Planet’s surface.

However, adding to the mystery is another intriguing possibility the Perseverance team considered: that Skull Hill might not originate from anywhere on Mars at all.

Meteorite or Magmatic Mystery? Based on the stone’s dark coloration and unusual shape, one possibility that was initially considered had been that Skull Hill might be a fragment from a meteorite that made its way to the Martian surface.

Although the stone’s appearance does superficially resemble a meteorite, chemical analysis of the sample made possible by Perseverance’s SuperCam instrument indicates a composition that likely rules out a meteorite origin.

But if not a meteorite, then what could account for Skull Hill’s unusual appearance?

The best explanation so far seems to be that the mysterious stone is an igneous rock, which likely formed as molten lava or magma cooled long ago in the Red Planet’s history. Such volcanic stones are common both on Mars, and on Earth, and contain an abundance of elements like iron and magnesium which would contribute to their dark color.

Other minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite—all of which are frequently found in igneous rocks—might also be present in Skull Hill.

Further investigations by Perseverance will likely help to shed additional light on the mystery.

“Luckily for us, the rover has instruments that can measure the chemical composition of rocks on Mars,” said Margaret Deahn, Ph.D., a student at Purdue University who wrote about the recent discovery in a blog post at NASA’s website.

“Understanding the composition of these darker-toned floats will help the team to interpret the origin of this unique rock,” Deahn added. By analyzing the composition of dark-toned float rocks like Skull Hill, the team hopes to trace their geologic story—whether shaped by volcanic activity, impact events, or something entirely unexpected.

Additional information about “Skull Hill” and Perseverance’s latest investigations can be found on NASA’s official blogs webpage.

Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.


TOPICS: Astronomy; History; Science; UFO's
KEYWORDS: astronomy; mars; science; skullhill
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 next last
To: Red Badger

It’s from space. Glad I could clear that up.


21 posted on 04/18/2025 1:07:06 PM PDT by Colorado Doug (Now I know how the Indians felt to be sold out for a few beads and trinkets)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wally_bert

22 posted on 04/18/2025 1:07:13 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Never attribute malice to that which can be explained by incompetence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Long live rock.


23 posted on 04/18/2025 1:08:13 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido

Sounds like a job for the Star Cops.

Decent 80s British sci fi show that didn’t get a long run.


24 posted on 04/18/2025 1:08:51 PM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sured for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: wally_bert

It looks like part of a gas tank from a Kawasaki motorcycle.


25 posted on 04/18/2025 1:11:04 PM PDT by GaltAdonis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

It would be pretty cool if one of our rivers rolled up on some Russian crash debris


26 posted on 04/18/2025 1:11:23 PM PDT by daku
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heart

Another frequent Oak Island comment!! We just need Jack shaking his head in agreement to everything or carrying a shovel.


27 posted on 04/18/2025 1:18:51 PM PDT by Mean Daddy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: daku

Democrats would scream collusion on principle.


28 posted on 04/18/2025 1:18:55 PM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sured for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Yep it looks like a dome light out of a Packard alright.


29 posted on 04/18/2025 1:25:14 PM PDT by Vaduz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Sillies ... it’s just a home plate for a baseball field.


30 posted on 04/18/2025 1:56:12 PM PDT by antidemoncrat ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

Almost certainly.


31 posted on 04/18/2025 2:00:50 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Mean Daddy

Hey Jack’s okay, man. He understands his role.


32 posted on 04/18/2025 2:01:46 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Looks like Quartz....or something.


33 posted on 04/18/2025 2:10:10 PM PDT by mowowie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

I know that shovel isn’t going anywhere unless its attached to Jack.


34 posted on 04/18/2025 2:20:27 PM PDT by Mean Daddy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Are the dimensions 1:4:9 ?


35 posted on 04/18/2025 3:24:07 PM PDT by Macoozie (Roll MAGA, roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

Where’s Richard C. Hoaglund when you need him?


36 posted on 04/18/2025 3:29:34 PM PDT by bobcat62
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The color suggests that it may have come from Uranus.


37 posted on 04/18/2025 5:56:15 PM PDT by Oscar in Batangas (An Honors Graduate from the Don Rickles School of Personal Verbal Intercourse)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
Elon's Tesla had a hard landing when the chute failed.

HeavyMetalMovieEntry

38 posted on 04/18/2025 6:29:11 PM PDT by MikelTackNailer (The Houthis get all the Press while the Blowfish go forgotten.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

dinosaur turd


39 posted on 04/18/2025 6:50:41 PM PDT by b4me (Pray, and let God change you. He knows better than you or anyone else, who He made you to be.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mean Daddy

A “potentially important discovery”?


40 posted on 04/18/2025 8:29:52 PM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson