Another “What the heck?” formation on Mars
Click for full image.
Cool image time! The photo to the right, cropped, reduced, and enhanced to post here, was taken on May 28, 2022 by the high resolution camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), and shows what the scientists label “unique terrain.”
I have increased the contrast to bring out the details. It appears that we have a flat plain of criss-crossing ridges that in large areas have somehow gotten flattened across their top. Imagine someone laying plaster on a wall and using a scraper tool to smooth the surface, but only partially. In this case on Mars, our imaginary worker only smoothed the surface a little, and only in some areas. To try to come up with a geological process however to explain this seems daunting.
And what created the criss-crossing ridges? The overview map provides only a little help in answering these questions.
The white cross marks the location of this unique terrain inside the Medusae Fossae Formation, the largest volcanic ash deposit on Mars that is thought to be the source of most of the red planet’s dust. I have featured this region many times previously, because routinely it looks like a Sahara-like desert of wind-shaped hills of sand.
Thus, we may be looking at hardened ash dunes. However, their criss-crossing nature suggests prevailing winds from two different directions. Yet, if the wind shifted 90 degrees wouldn’t the new direction blow away the previously shaped dunes?
And once again, why are the tops of some ridges smoothed, all to the same height?
It is also possible this is a hardened lava flood plain that over time became eroded, both by wind and other processes. Once again, I don’t think there are any known volcanic lava processes that might explain the criss-cross pattern as well as the flattened surfaces.
All in all, another fun feature on Mars that we all can scratch our heads about.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Click for full image.
Cool image time! The photo to the right, cropped, reduced, and enhanced to post here, was taken on May 28, 2022 by the high resolution camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), and shows what the scientists label “unique terrain.”
I have increased the contrast to bring out the details. It appears that we have a flat plain of criss-crossing ridges that in large areas have somehow gotten flattened across their top. Imagine someone laying plaster on a wall and using a scraper tool to smooth the surface, but only partially. In this case on Mars, our imaginary worker only smoothed the surface a little, and only in some areas. To try to come up with a geological process however to explain this seems daunting.
And what created the criss-crossing ridges? The overview map provides only a little help in answering these questions.
The white cross marks the location of this unique terrain inside the Medusae Fossae Formation, the largest volcanic ash deposit on Mars that is thought to be the source of most of the red planet’s dust. I have featured this region many times previously, because routinely it looks like a Sahara-like desert of wind-shaped hills of sand.
Thus, we may be looking at hardened ash dunes. However, their criss-crossing nature suggests prevailing winds from two different directions. Yet, if the wind shifted 90 degrees wouldn’t the new direction blow away the previously shaped dunes?
And once again, why are the tops of some ridges smoothed, all to the same height?
It is also possible this is a hardened lava flood plain that over time became eroded, both by wind and other processes. Once again, I don’t think there are any known volcanic lava processes that might explain the criss-cross pattern as well as the flattened surfaces.
All in all, another fun feature on Mars that we all can scratch our heads about.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
This is actually quite startling; when I glanced at the image the first thought that popped
into my mind is that this looks like a tablet with cuneiform writing! I don’t know what the
geologists want to call it, but for now I will call it “Cuneiform Terrain.”
Actually, I like that term.
I was thinking “crepey skin terrain”.
Now I don’t have to explain why I thought that.
Thank you.
My reaction was modern art -Texturism
You guys need to get out more, as it’s clear & obvious what caused those terrain features …
Off-roaders.
That works, too.
It’s aliens recreating.
Cool.