Curiosity Explorer Finds Rocks With Strange Patterns On Mars' Backs

Rocks with a plaid pattern on Mars (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA Curiosity, NASA's Mars rover robot, is currently at the bottom of the back of the mountain. In the new region, Curiosity drills to sample its assistance.

When exploring the new area, Curiosity found a low back that crossed into a box-shaped pattern. The base rock at the bottom of its back may have formed due to soil water sprinkling through rocks in the past.

From the results of temporary observations, the researchers believe that this area also has water in the past even though it is only underground. Groundwater is believed to harden and become cement-like. When the stone is eroded, the mineral element remains in it.

However, the findings are only temporary hypotheses because NASA scientists are still exploring the ridge. According to them, this mysterious pattern on the ridge needs to be studied because the elements in it can support signs of life.

"A big mystery is why those ridges harden into these great patterns and why only here," said Curiosity Scientist Arwin Vasavada. "Over time, we will study the ridges and cement of minerals to ascertain our idea of how they formed correctly."

This plaid pattern stretches quite long on Mount Sharp. The team stressed that this pattern has never been seen in other Martian mountains. If you pay close attention, the ridge found by Curiosity also looks like a collapsed sidewalk.

By exploring the pattern of boxes on this back, scientists want to gain more insight into Mars, including about how water can disappear from the planet. Hopefully, Curiosity can find unexpected clues.