Curiosity rover discovers unexplained geological pits on Mars

NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered a series of unusual geological formations while exploring the Valle Grande area of Mount Sharp in Mars’ Gale Crater. The rover captured images of several wide, shallow pits that do not align with known Martian erosion patterns.

Typically, such holes on Mars are formed when a hard mineral grain or pebble is left behind after the surrounding material erodes. However, scientists noted that these specific pits are unusually wide and flat, and they lack any visible traces of the mineral nodules or stones that would typically occupy them.

To investigate this anomaly, the science team is using the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) and Mastcam to take overlapping, stereoscopic images. These will be used to reconstruct three-dimensional digital models of the pits to better understand how the sulfate-rich rock layers of Mount Sharp are weathering. Researchers from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are currently studying whether these features are linked to the planet's complex geological history or specific environmental cycles.