Sustained wet-dry cycling on early Mars.

The presence of perennially wet surface environments on early Mars is well documented, but little is known about short-term episodicity in the early hydroclimate. Post-depositional processes driven by such short-term fluctuations may produce distinct structures, yet these are rarely preserved in the sedimentary record. Incomplete geological constraints have led global models of the early Mars water cycle and climate to produce diverging results.

Diverse organic-mineral associations in Jezero crater, Mars.

The presence and distribution of preserved organic matter on the surface of Mars can provide key information about the Martian carbon cycle and the potential of the planet to host life throughout its history. Several types of organic molecules have been previously detected in Martian meteorites and at Gale crater, Mars. Evaluating the diversity and detectability of organic matter elsewhere on Mars is important for understanding the extent and diversity of Martian surface processes and the potential availability of carbon sources.

Aqueous alteration processes in Jezero crater, Mars-implications for organic geochemistry.

The Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater, Mars, in February 2021. We used the Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument to perform deep-ultraviolet Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy of three rocks within the crater. We identify evidence for two distinct ancient aqueous environments at different times.