NASA rover finds chromium-bearing corundum on Mars

NASA published a report Monday 09 November 2026 about unexpected evidence of chromium-bearing corundum detected by the Perseverance rover on Mars. The findings were reported by Roger C. Wiens, SuperCam Principal Investigator for NASA’s Perseverance rover at Purdue University.

Perseverance carries several instruments for studying Mars’ rock record. PIXL and SuperCam can detect elements. SHERLOC, SuperCam and PIXL can identify minerals through techniques including x-ray fluorescence, Raman and infrared spectroscopies.

SuperCam can also study time-resolved luminescence. Two years ago, the SuperCam team found strong, narrow luminescence peaks at two wavelengths of 692.7 and 694.1 nanometers after the instrument’s laser struck a light-colored rock.

The announcement said the luminescence came from delayed atomic transitions in chromium atoms within a corundum mineral structure. SuperCam timed the delay of the transitions through the resulting photons. The team verified that the emission came from chromium in corundum.

Ruby is the gemstone version of chromium-containing corundum. Before SuperCam was installed on Perseverance, the team placed a ruby in the laser beam. The entire room pulsed a brilliant red when the laser hit the gemstone, and the emission was extremely bright.

Perseverance has not found collectable rubies on Mars. The smaller corundum crystals are helping scientists study the planet’s past. The announcement said large meteor and asteroid impacts can heat rocks and create local metamorphism. Perseverance has observed time-resolved luminescence frequently on light-toned rocks in ancient terrain near the rim of Jezero crater.