NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has recently revealed fascinating new details about the Martian surface, offering scientists their first close-up images of a region previously observed only from orbit. These stunning images uncover a series of low ridges on the planet’s surface, known as “boxwork” formations, which have the potential to rewrite parts of Mars’ geological history.

Unearthing the Boxwork Formations

The Curiosity rover’s new findings are a significant leap forward in understanding how Mars’ surface has evolved over billions of years. These crisscrossing ridges, some just a few inches tall, are arranged in a distinctive “boxwork” pattern.

Scientists believe that these ridges are the result of ancient groundwater that slowly percolated through the Martian bedrock, depositing minerals that eventually cemented into hardened structures. Over time, the wind erosion of Mars has worn down the surrounding rock but left the more resistant minerals intact, creating the exposed ridges.

The boxwork formations are found in the foothills of Mount Sharp, a towering three-mile-high mountain in Gale Crater, the site where Curiosity has been exploring since 2012. These patterns stretch across miles of rock layers that tell the story of Mars’ past. While the rover has observed similar formations elsewhere on Mars, the concentration of boxwork here is a unique feature of this region, sparking new questions about why such patterns only appear in this particular area.

Understanding the Role of Groundwater

The importance of these boxwork patterns lies in their connection to ancient Martian water. Scientists speculate that the ridges were formed when groundwater moved through the cracks and fissures of the rock, leaving behind mineral deposits that eventually hardened into cement-like structures. This new evidence reinforces the theory that water once played a significant role in shaping the Martian surface, even after the planet’s lakes and rivers dried up.

Curiosity’s project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, highlighted the mystery surrounding these ridges: “A big mystery is why the ridges were hardened into these big patterns and why only here.”

Clues about Mars’ Changing Climate

Another intriguing aspect of the boxwork patterns is their location within Mount Sharp’s various layers. The mountain’s different strata represent different periods in Mars’ ancient climate history, with Curiosity “time-traveling” through these layers as it ascends. The rover is currently investigating a layer rich in magnesium sulfates—salty minerals that form when water evaporates—indicating a period when Mars‘ climate began to dry.

Interestingly, while this layer suggests a drier environment, the boxwork formations provide evidence that even during this transition, groundwater was still active beneath the surface. This discovery suggests that even as Mars’ surface conditions shifted, water remained a critical force shaping the planet’s geological landscape.

New Findings and Ongoing Research

The rover’s mission has already uncovered some unexpected surprises. For example, the team has observed an unusual presence of tiny fractures in the bedrock filled with white veins of calcium sulfate, another mineral associated with groundwater. “That’s really surprising,” said Abigail Fraeman, Curiosity’s deputy project scientist. “These calcium sulfate veins used to be everywhere, but they more or less disappeared as we climbed higher up Mount Sharp.”

Also, Curiosity has begun drilling into a rock called “Altadena” to better understand the composition of this unique region. This will allow the team to analyze the minerals in greater detail and search for signs of organic molecules that could offer clues about the possibility of past microbial life on Mars.