A newly identified volcano near Jezero crater on Mars, known as Jezero Mons, may provide significant geological insights, with the Perseverance rover potentially having already collected samples from it.

The upcoming Mars Sample Return mission aims to bring back rock samples for radioisotope dating, which will help determine the age of Jezero crater and enhance our understanding of Mars' geological history.

Since landing on Mars in February 2021, Perseverance has revealed that the crater floor consists of volcanic rocks rather than the expected lake sediments, reinforcing the volcanic theory.

Jezero Mons measures approximately 21 kilometers wide and 2 kilometers tall, resembling volcanoes found on Earth.

Its proximity to an ancient lake suggests potential hydrothermal activity, which could have created environments conducive to life, similar to hot springs on Earth.

The volcanic origin of Jezero Mons was first hypothesized by Professor James Wray in 2007, based on initial images, and recent findings were published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

High-resolution images from Mars orbiters indicate that fine-grained material on Jezero Mons resembles volcanic ash, aligning with characteristics of terrestrial volcanoes.

Research led by James Wray from the Georgia Institute of Technology suggests that Jezero Mons, a dormant volcano on the southeastern rim of Jezero, could be the source of volcanic material in the samples collected.

Wray and Brown University student Sara C. Cuevas-Quiñones conducted a comprehensive study using data from three Mars orbiters and Perseverance to support the volcano hypothesis.

Evidence such as solidified lava flow structures and volcanic ash cover supports the idea that volcanic activity was prevalent on Mars.

Jezero Mons shares size and shape characteristics with other Martian volcanoes and Earth's Mount Sidley, suggesting it may be relatively young due to its lack of impact craters.

Briony Horgan, a member of the rover's science team, emphasizes the importance of understanding the planet's interior evolution and the implications of knowing when the volcano was active.