NASA's Curiosity rover is set to begin a months-long expedition to a geological formation known as the boxwork, characterized by intricate, weblike patterns on the Martian surface. This journey will take the rover away from the Gediz Vallis channel, an area shrouded in mystery regarding its formation during Mars's transition to a drier climate.
The Gediz Vallis channel may provide insights into the planet's ancient climate and the potential for microbial life, as it is situated near Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-tall (5-kilometer-tall) mountain. Curiosity has been tasked with uncovering evidence that ancient Mars possessed the necessary conditions for life, particularly during its wetter periods billions of years ago.
Recent discoveries include a field of white sulfur stones, which Curiosity imaged in a 360-degree panorama. The science team is keen to understand the origins of these stones, which were previously undetectable by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Upon closer inspection, Curiosity found that the stones were pure sulfur, a first for any Mars mission. The formation of sulfur in this context remains unexplained, as it is typically associated with volcanic activity or hot springs.
Curiosity has traveled approximately 20 miles (33 kilometers) since its landing in 2012. It is now documenting the western edge of the Gediz Vallis channel before proceeding to the boxwork formation, which appears as spiderwebs from orbital images. This structure is believed to have formed as minerals from Mount Sharp's last water flows settled into fractures in the rock and hardened.
Scientists, including Kirsten Siebach from Rice University, emphasize the significance of these ridges, which may contain minerals that crystallized in warmer, salty liquid water environments. This raises intriguing possibilities about early Earth microbes surviving in similar conditions, making the boxwork a compelling target for exploration.