NASA’s Perseverance rover studied a 75-meter-thick layered rock formation called the Broom Point member on Jezero Crater’s rim, finding evidence that it was constructed by successive asteroid impacts. The rocks include breccias with molten glass beads and gas bubbles, features consistent with impact processes rather than volcanic origin.
Because Mars lacks Earth's plate tectonics, this ancient physical record remains intact, offering rare insight into early solar system impacts. The findings, published in a geophysical research journal, illustrate a tumultuous period preserved on Mars that is absent from Earth’s geological record due to crust recycling.
Source & further reading
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Reads Record of Ancient Mars Impacts ↗Source published 2026-07-15. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.