A recent article in Scientific American suggested that NASA rovers may have found traces of minerals on Mars related to rubies, sapphires, opals, and other gem materials familiar to us here on Earth.
And yes, scientifically, that makes for a fun headline.
According to the article, NASA’s Perseverance rover identified aluminum-rich minerals and crystal structures in a rock nicknamed “Coffee Cove” that researchers described as “ruby-like.” The article also references earlier discoveries of silica-rich and so-called “opal-rich” regions elsewhere on Mars.
But before gemologists begin planning interplanetary buying trips, it is important to separate mineral indicators from actual gemstones.
At the moment, there are no gemologically interesting rubies sitting on the Martian surface. In fact, even the wording being used in the scientific reporting remains cautious — and for good reason.
The presence of aluminum-rich minerals or corundum-related chemistry does not automatically mean gem-quality ruby or sapphire exists there in any recognizable trade sense. Let’s face it… even NASA is using gem names to draw interest to their mineral finds on the red planet.
Mars may contain some of the ingredients associated with ruby, sapphire, and opal formation. But that is very different from saying Mars contains rubies.
The same caution applies to opal. And as we pointed out previously in our own Roskin Gem News Report feature on Gale Crater, we do not believe the so-called “opal-rich” rocks identified there were ever confirmed to be gemologically important opal.
Still, the science itself remains genuinely fascinating. What if there really are rubies and opals on Mars?
The real importance of these discoveries is what the minerals may reveal about Mars itself — including evidence of ancient water activity, hydrothermal systems, environmental conditions, and perhaps even clues connected to whether microbial life may once have existed there.
In other words, this is currently more of a planetary geology story than a gem trade story.
At least for now.
Who knows? Someday, perhaps, future planetary gemologists may argue over Martian origin reports, synthetic disclosure, and whether “Mars ruby” should be considered treated material after atmospheric re-entry back to Earth.
But we’re not quite there yet. 😁
Tap here to read more about finding gems on Mars in Scientific American!
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Tap here for our feature story in 2023 that talks about opal on Mars!
