Curiosity Rover's Close-Up Reveals Intriguing 'Spiderweb' Rock Formations on Mars, Potentially Holding Clues to Past Habitability

NASA's Curiosity rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars, capturing the first close-up images of bizarre, spiderweb-like rock formations. These intricate structures are offering valuable insights into the Red Planet's past, particularly its watery history and potential for supporting life.

The unusual zig-zagging formations, known as "boxwork," were found on the slopes of Mount Sharp within Gale Crater. Curiosity has been exploring this region since 2012. The intricate, mineral-rich ridges are believed to have originated from ancient groundwater activity, creating a web-like appearance when viewed from above. Scientists are optimistic that these formations could hold critical clues about Mars' ability to sustain microbial life in the distant past.

Despite their suggestive name, these "spiderwebs" aren't the work of Martian insects. Instead, they are geological formations called boxwork. These patterns of intersecting mineral ridges are created when groundwater seeps through cracks in the rock. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind mineral deposits. Over eons, wind erosion gradually wears away the surrounding, softer rock, revealing the hardened, web-like framework.

A First Look at Martian Geology

While boxwork formations have been observed from orbit, this is the first time they've been examined in such detail on the Martian surface. Curiosity reached the site in early June 2025, after an extended journey across Mount Sharp. On June 23rd, NASA released the images along with a 3D interactive video, emphasizing the site as a high-priority target for scientific investigation due to its unique characteristics and enigmatic location.

Ancient Mars Revealed

Analysis of the surrounding rock formations has revealed veins of calcium sulfate. This salty mineral is often left behind by evaporating groundwater. These findings indicate that the area was once abundant in liquid water. The underground environment may have been warm and salty, potentially providing habitable conditions for microbial life, similar to environments found on early Earth.

Distinguishing True Boxwork from Other Martian Features

It is important not to confuse these newly imaged boxwork formations with the “spiders on Mars”. The latter are dark, radial patterns that are created by carbon dioxide ice erupting from beneath the surface. The seasonal surface patterns are distinctly different from permanent, mineral-based boxwork, which are formed through geological, rather than atmospheric, processes.

Implications for Past Martian Life

These formations could be pivotal in determining whether Mars once supported life. The mineral composition, protective underground setting, and evidence of past water flows all suggest an environment capable of sustaining microbial organisms. According to Curiosity mission scientist Kirsten Siebach, "Early Earth microbes could have survived in a similar environment."

Curiosity's Next Steps

Curiosity will continue its investigation of this boxwork area on Mount Sharp. It will collect samples through drilling and perform in-depth chemical analyses. Scientists hope that these unique geological structures will provide further insights into Mars' climate history. It will also guide future missions in their search for evidence of life beneath the Martian surface.