Bright, shimmering, mysterious: NASA’s rover has found a strange stone on the Red Planet.

NASA has reported that a bright boulder spotted by the rover is unlike any other rock found on Mars.

Rover Perseverance, which has been studying the ancient Jezero crater on the Red Planet since 2021, has come across a mysterious boulder on Mount Washburn. It stood out sharply against the backdrop of numerous dark rocks, the publication reported. IFLScience Researchers believe that the unusual stone may provide certain intriguing clues about the ancient geological processes that shaped the Martian surface.

“The variety of textures and compositions on Mount Washburn has been an exciting discovery for the team, as the rocks there are a whole bag of geological treasures brought from the edge of the crater,” said Brad Gharzian, one of the leaders of the Perseverance mission. According to him, “among all these different rocks, there was one that really caught our attention.”

A boulder measuring 45 centimeters wide and 35 centimeters high emerged against a backdrop of darker stones, resembling a light-colored rock. Scientists named it Atoko Point. Using its SuperCam and Mastcam-Z instruments, the Perseverance rover determined that the rock is composed of the minerals pyroxene and feldspar. While it is unclear how it ended up on Mount Washburn, surrounded by rocks of a completely different composition.

One theory suggests that the Atoko Point minerals formed in magma beneath the surface of Mars and were later exposed due to erosion. However, the rock could also have been transported to this location by a river that flowed on the surface of Mars in the distant past.

“In any case, the team believes that this first-of-its-kind Atoko Point will not be the last,” the researchers wrote. NASA in its report on the finding.

After a brief stop, during which Perseverance admired a unique rock and analyzed its composition, the rover set off to the next location known as Bright Angel. This rocky region is intriguing for its contrast with the surrounding red landscapes. There, Perseverance will continue its search for signs of ancient life. Mars .