The Digester

Perseverance finds signs that early Mars was warm and wet

Feb 22nd 2026

Chemical analysis of aluminum-rich clay pebbles in Jezero crater suggests prolonged rainfall and habitable conditions during the Noachian epoch.

  • Kaolinite pebbles in Jezero show strong iron and magnesium depletion and aluminum and titanium enrichment consistent with intensive chemical weathering by liquid water.
  • The clay chemistry argues against short-lived hydrothermal alteration from impacts or volcanism and points to modest temperatures and persistent rainfall.
  • Authors compare the clays to similar Earth deposits from past greenhouse climates and say conditions may have lasted thousands to millions of years.
  • The result supports a warm, largely ice-free Noachian climate over the competing cold and icy scenario.
  • Samples collected by Perseverance are cached for return, but the planned Mars sample return mission has been canceled according to the article, delaying Earth-based analysis

Sources

phys.org