**Exploration Breakthrough: Perseverance Rover Investigates Ancient Martian Terrain**

NASA's Perseverance rover has embarked on an exciting new chapter in its mission, exploring a region of Mars known as "Krokodillen," where some of the planet's most ancient rocks may reveal secrets about its early history. This site, rich in clay, olivine, and carbonate minerals, sits between the rugged rim of Jezero Crater and the surrounding plains and could provide crucial insights into Mars' watery past, specifically during the Noachian period.

"These past five months have been a whirlwind of geological exploration," said Ken Farley, deputy project scientist for Perseverance from Caltech. "While our previous investigations at 'Witch Hazel Hill' were successful, our ventures into Krokodillen hold the promise of equally compelling discoveries."

Named after a mountain ridge in Norway, Krokodillen spans 73 acres of rocky terrain and is situated just downslope from Witch Hazel Hill. This area's bedrock contains clay minerals, indicative of ancient water presence, crucial for understanding Mars' potential to support life billions of years ago.

"If we identify a potential biosignature here, it could be from a much earlier epoch of Mars' evolution than the signs we found last year in Jezero Crater," Farley explained, referencing a rock sampled in 2024 with possible chemical signatures of ancient life. These ancient rocks formed during Mars' Noachian period, predating even the creation of Jezero Crater.

Perseverance is currently examining a rocky outcrop in Krokodillen called "Copper Cove," which may contain these Noachian rocks. Data from Mars orbiters suggest that Krokodillen is also home to olivine and carbonate. While olivine forms from magma, carbonates, which typically form in the presence of liquid water, are known on Earth for preserving ancient microbial life and recording historical climate conditions.

To date, Perseverance has sealed 26 rock cores, with one unsealed sample from April 28 named "Bell Island," containing unique spherules. On May 13, 2025, the rover captured tracks originating from "Witch Hazel Hill," marking its 1,503rd Martian day. With seven empty tubes remaining, the Perseverance team plans to keep some unsealed, allowing flexibility in sample collection.

NASA's approach ensures that the quality of the unsealed samples remains uncompromised. "The environment inside the rover is incredibly clean, making contamination highly unlikely," said Perseverance acting project scientist Katie Stack Morgan.

Since landing in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021, after launching on July 30, 2020, Perseverance, equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments, has been investigating Mars' geology and climate, aiming to uncover signs of past life. The mission is part of NASA's broader efforts to pave the way for future human exploration of Mars.