The links below provide close-up, daytime views of the tailings (piles of fine debris) produced by the Perseverance rover’s coring drill at the various sampling sites, in and around Jezero Crater (those new to the mission can read some of the rationale for sample acquisition here). I have not included the tailings from the regolith samples (#17 and #18), given that they were not penetrating solid rock. Where twin samples were acquired, I have used the most detailed image available for a single pile, but the twin tailings appear nearly identical in most respects.

This list should be considered a companion to the mission’s core sample page, which is regularly maintained by JPL and gives some context for each of the samples. Unlike the tailings, the more numerous abrasion patches created by Perseverance have been analyzed extensively by the rover’s instruments; in the case of Sample #27, however, it seems the science team may be taking more of an interest in this fine-grained material, at least in this one case.

To date (early March 2025), there has been little published research about these tailings, so this list has been compiled mostly to provide context for the various coring operations. Casual observation shows some notable colour differences between sets of tailings taken in different environments, as well as interesting contrast (or lack thereof) between the tailings and the untouched bedrock surrounding the piles. Keen observers will no doubt notice other points of interest here!

CRATER FLOOR CAMPAIGN

  • Sample site #1 (failed: atmosphere only) - image captured 12:42 PM local time

  • Sample site #2/3 “Montdenier” and “Montagnac” - image captured 11:06 AM local time

  • Sample site #4/5 “Salette” and “Coulettes” - image captured 5:32 PM local time

  • Sample site #6/7 “Robine” and “Malay” - image captured 11:27 AM local time

  • Sample site #8/9 “Ha’ahoni” and “Atsah” - image captured 10:44 AM local time

DELTA FRONT CAMPAIGN

UPPER FAN CAMPAIGN

MARGIN UNIT CAMPAIGN

CRATER RIM CAMPAIGN

Last updated 2 March 2025