Reconstructing Jezero Crater’s Paleoenvironment: Insights from Perseverance Rover and Orbital Data

Jezero Crater on Mars is a critical site for investigating ancient aqueous environments due to its preserved delta and lacustrine features. Reconstructing its paleoenvironmental history is essential for understanding Mars’ climate evolution and assessing its past habitability. This study integrates in-situ data from the Perseverance rover, including review for high-resolution imaging, mineralogical analyses, and subsurface radar, with orbital imagery from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Express. Terrestrial analogues aid in interpreting sedimentary structures and depositional processes. The integrated analysis reveals that Jezero Crater’s floor consists of igneous rocks with minimal aqueous alteration, overlain by deltaic sediments rich in clays and carbonates, indicative of a lacustrine setting. Orbital data confirm extensive fluvial networks and mineralogical diversity, while subsurface radar indicates stratified deposits consistent with episodic sedimentation. Sulfate-rich deposits suggest post-depositional diagenetic processes. The findings depict a complex history of initial igneous activity, followed by prolonged water-related sedimentation forming the delta, and subsequent aeolian modification, highlighting the dynamic nature of Mars’ early environment. By synthesizing rover and orbital data, this review work provides a comprehensive model of Jezero Crater’s paleoenvironment, offering valuable insights for future Mars exploration and the search for biosignatures.