NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures First Detailed Images of Martian 'Spiderwebs'

NASA's Curiosity rover has taken unprecedented close-up photographs of intriguing web-like structures on Mars, called 'boxwork,' which resemble giant spiderwebs.

These mineral-rich formations, stretching up to 12 miles (20 km), are located on the slopes of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater. Formed by ancient groundwater passing through fissures, depositing minerals that hardened over time, these structures provide vital clues about Mars' watery past and its potential to support life.

The recent images have allowed scientists to analyze these formations up close for the first time, revealing detailed patterns and mineral compositions such as calcium sulfate veins.

These deposits suggest past groundwater activity, raising the possibility that microbial life may have once thrived in these environments. Ongoing studies aim to understand the formation process and what it reveals about Mars' habitability billions of years ago.