Kilometer-long web-like rock formations on Mars point to ancient groundwater

NASA’s Curiosity rover has closely examined web-like rock ridges, known as "boxwork," in Mars’ Gale Crater. Resembling a giant spider web when viewed from space, these formations have provided new data regarding the Red Planet’s past water cycle.

During the approximately six-month investigation, the details of these structures, which were previously only visible in images from orbital spacecraft, were analyzed on-site. According to researchers, the dark lines within the ridges carry traces of water that once flowed through rock fractures.

Scientists state that billions of years ago, groundwater left minerals behind as it passed through these cracks, and these minerals hardened the fractures over time. As the surrounding softer rocks were worn away by wind and erosion, the web-like ridges stretching for kilometers were left behind.

It was reported that the region in question is located in the sulfate-rich layers of Mount Sharp in Gale Crater. Sulfates are among the minerals that can form through the evaporation of water and offer important clues for understanding Mars' climate history.

The new measurements strengthen the view that groundwater may have persisted on Mars until later periods. This situation also raises the possibility that conditions favorable for microbial life may have continued on the planet for longer than previously thought.