NASA’s Curiosity rover, which has been conducting research in Mars’ Gale crater for 14 years, has discovered a new and unusual feature related to the planet’s geological history.
“Elchi” reports that while climbing to the “Valle Grande” region, where the sulfate-rich layers of Mount Sharp are located, the rover recorded small and shallow holes on the ground, each about one centimeter wide.
Unlike previously encountered pits, no gravel or mineral debris caused by erosion was found around these holes.
The fact that these structures are extremely shallow and wide points to a scenario different from the known erosion processes on the “Red Planet”.
Photos are being analyzed
To understand the formation mechanism of the holes, the Curiosity team activated the MAHLI and Mastcam cameras installed on the rover.
It is reported that research is continuing through close-up images of the area and 3D surface models.
Having recently passed the 1000-meter elevation gain milestone while climbing Mount Sharp, Curiosity continues to study the chemical composition and erosion characteristics of the region’s various rock layers.
Scientists will continue to analyze the data to determine whether these newly discovered structures stem from a previously unknown erosion process or from the different physical properties of the rocks.
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