In the heart of the Gale crater on Marsthe rover Curiosity from the NASA he encountered a set of rocks that arouse great scientific interest. Described with earthly metaphors such as “dragon scales” and “tire tracks,” these rocks feature intricate patterns similar to the woven fibers of a basket, attracting the attention of experts for their uniqueness. These strange geological phenomena have sparked numerous questions among Curiosity team members, sparking a careful scientific investigation.
On April 14, Curiosity’s navigation cameras captured images of these rocks, revealing surprising details on their surfaces. Michelle Minitti, planetary scientist, highlighted the novelty of these findings compared to the usual stratified rocks observed in twelve years of Martian explorations. Among these, a formation called “Sawblade” stands out, due to its serrated profile and its peculiar structure. Andrew Good of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory stressed that the team is waiting for further high-resolution images to better analyze Sawblade, considering several theories on the possible geological processes that could have given rise to such formations.
Curiosity at Work
Meanwhile, Curiosity is putting its onboard instruments to good use to examine the chemistry and structure of these rocks, defined by Minitti as “wild new wonders.” These observations help distinguish between usual discoveries, such as data collected on common rock types and landscapes, and more unusual ones, such as Sawblade, which could indicate significant changes in rock type or chemistry, revealing new geologic processes or regimes on Mount Sharp.
Since landing in 2012, Curiosity has been tasked with exploring Mount Sharp, a towering mountain that rises more than 5 kilometers from the crater floor. Although the goal is not to reach the summit, the rover studies the lower areas to better understand the geological and climatic history of the red planet. In particular, NASA is interested in finding out whether Mars once hosted microbial life and what role water played in the planet’s possible habitability. Recent explorations in what is thought to have been an ancient river route, and discoveries such as those at Sawblade, are essential to enriching knowledge of the crater’s geology and the processes that shaped these unique rock formations.
