Spatially distributed complex organic matter detected in an ancient river valley in Jezero crater, Mars
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Using a Raman spectrometer onboard the Perseverance rover, we report the heterogeneous distribution of organic carbon within mudstones located in an ancient river valley on Mars. Measurements of two mudstones show hundreds of organic detections, making this the most robust organic detection in Jezero crater thus far, and, to our knowledge, the only detection of macromolecular carbon on a natural rock surface on Mars. Spectra of the interior of one rock reveal an association of organics with secondary carbonate and sulfate minerals, whereas another rock exhibits an association of organics with primary silicate-dominated matrix. Although in situ Raman analyses cannot determine whether these organics denote abiotic or biotic sources, the organic association with both depositional and diagenetic minerals and the detection of organics on the martian surface suggests that the organics observed ubiquitously at the Bright Angel outcrop may be resistant to radiation and oxidation or have been relatively recently exposed.
Date Issued
2026-06-26
Date Acceptance
2026-05-13
Citation
Science Advances, 2026, 12 (26)
ISSN
2375-2548
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Journal / Book Title
Science Advances
Volume
12
Issue
26
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
eadx0047
Date Publish Online
2026-06-24